STOCKHOLM, Maine — Hempfest, a three-day music and camping festival that was to be held this weekend in Stockholm to demonstrate how vital hemp can be to Maine’s economy, has been canceled, according to multiple sources.
Music Mountain Hempfest was scheduled to take place Sept. 19-21 at 146 West Road in Stockholm ,Mark Ward, founder of Local Noise Entertainment and promoter for Hempfest, said late last week. Jack Sargent, owner of the property in Stockholm where the event was to be held, was responsible for securing the proper permits prior to advertising for the event, according to Ward.
On Sept. 4, the town of Stockholm released a statement saying “no permits had been applied for or approved” for the event. Town officials said that the host would need a special amusement permit from the town, as well as a fire permit for the campsites.
Ward, who is from Rhode Island, said two weeks ago that he left several messages for Sargent and was trying to work out the “miscommunication” and correct whatever had gone wrong. He told the BDN that he previously had been informed the permits had all been taken care of.
Efforts to reach Sargent for comment have been unsuccessful.
T he Music Mountain Hempfest Facebook page since has announced that the event has been canceled due to “circumstances beyond our control.” The announcement indicates how ticket holders can get refunds.
On Tuesday, town officials in Stockholm said that no one from Hempfest ever attempted to apply for any permits to host the event within the municipality. Officials said that even if they scrambled to apply for permits now, it would be too late for selectmen to hold a special meeting to issue them.
Ward said earlier this month that he had been contacted by Sargent, who markets the property as Mainiac Mountain Motor Sports and Music Mountain, about having the event in Stockholm. Ward said that Hempfest previously has been held farther south, such as in Boston, and organizers had never attempted to have it so far north.
According to Hempfest’s Facebook page, groups planned to use the Stockholm event to spread awareness concerning legalization for both recreational and medical marijuana use. Others had planned to spread information about how hemp can be used to make food, clothing and medicine.