ELK GROVE, Calif. — Elk Grove Western Festival's longtime parade director said Cosumnes Community Service District (CSD) should have provided more help to volunteers before announcing the festival's cancelation.
"I just wish that the CSD Administration would have worked with us a little bit longer to keep the event going, all the work has been done except for a little bit of the paperwork and we did not meet their deadlines," Lynden King told ABC10. "Something like this should not have been canceled, it is a major event in Elk Grove. As Elk Grove gets bigger, there are less volunteers, more requirements and paperwork. I've been doing this event for almost 30 years and it seemed like there was a lot of paperwork this year."
Representatives for Cosumnes CSD did not immediately respond to request for comment regarding King's latest statement. However, in a prior statement, Cosumnes CSD said their agreement was ended due to non-compliance with terms and two extensions.
A volunteer of the festival since 2010, community photographer Michael Taporco said Elk Grove Western Festival became the premier event of the city when the city was first incorporated in 2000.
He helps run a Elk Grove Western Festival fan page on Facebook and said news of the festival's cancelation shocked him.
"It takes like a year for the festival to organize, setting up food trucks and vendors, there's two stages and they rent the whole park." Taporco said. "We're just volunteers; we don't get paid."
The full statement from Cosumnes CSD General Manager Phil Lewis provided ABC10 Tuesday regarding the Western Festival's cancelation is available below.
“We understand how much the Elk Grove Western Festival means to the community, and we share in the disappointment that its cancellation may bring. Despite our hopes for its continuation, the decision to terminate the agreement was made due to non-compliance with the outlined terms, despite two extensions given to the festival committee to fulfill its requirements to ensure public health and safety. The safety and well-being of all participants and attendees remain our top priority. We hope to work together to ensure that future events can be held safely and successfully.”
