UPDATE: A music festival set to take place later this month at the Oceano Dunes has been canceled.
A post on the event’s Facebook page said, “Due to unanticipated production challenges, we the producers of Oceano Music Fest have decided to suspend all festival activities at Pismo State Beach this year. We appreciate all those who’ve supported us in this process, and remain committed to serving you. We’ll continue working to create conditions for a successful Oceano Music Fest at Pismo State Beach in 2019.”
Organizers say full refunds will be issued soon for those who had already purchased tickets or vehicle passes.
ORIGINAL STORY: A music festival is slated to happen on the Oceano Dunes in just a few weeks, but not everyone is excited about the sound of it.
The Oceano Music Fest, which is designed to take up 12 acres, dubs itself “California’s only overnight beach music festival” and will kick off Oct. 11-14.
Tickets are being sold, but the promoter has not yet been granted the permit, although it appears a foregone conclusion.
The Oceano Beach Community Association is voicing its concerns over the planned event, claiming the state did not do enough research about the impacts of the festival.
“We want everyone to know what’s going on here and have a chance to way in on it,” said Cynthia Replogle, president of the association. “We don’t want to have these concerts here, at least not without considering the impacts that they’re going to have on the community and environment, and that’s something that is lacking in the state’s study.”
Dena Bellman, California State Parks Oceano Dunes District Planner, said the promoters have worked extensively with the state to create a highly-detailed plan over the past year.
“It was a lot of information for them to provide,” Bellman said. “It was a lot of information to digest. Based on the studies we did on the previous event and the noise analysis and how they would have to configure their event to meet those conditions and mitigations.”
A similar event occurred in 2016 and it provided a chance for the state to conduct studies before and during the event to better handle future bids.
“We do believe it’s going to be a good event. We’re staffing up for it to make sure there is opportunity for everyone to be safe and still have their requested activities to have in the state park that day.”
Funds paid to the state for the event go toward the cost recovery incurred by the need for additional staffing like medics, rangers, and lifeguards.
Bellman said plans required key elements to be addressed such as parking. Attendees will park off site on Branch Street and be provided a shuttle to the event. A zero waste company will also be hired. The promoters were required to submit examples of equipment in order to help design specifics on the stage set up and noise levels which will be monitored during the three day festival.
We have reached out to the promoters of the event but have not received a response at the time of publishing this story.
How to Comment: Written comments must be received by CDPR no later than 5 p.m. on October 5, 2018. Written comments on the IS/ND may be provided by email to Dena.Bellman@parks.ca.gov or be sent via fax or U.S. mail to the following address/fax number:
Attn: Dena Bellman
Oceano Dunes District Office
340 James Way, Ste. 270
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
(805) 773-7176 fax
