If there’s anything that can harsh the mellow of “Dead Heads,” it’s probably this.
On Tuesday, the founder of Skull & Roses, a Grateful Dead tribute festival that was set to be held in Ventura next weekend, has been canceled. In the same announcement, it was noted that those who purchased tickets won’t get their money back.
“With deep sorrow I must inform you that SKULL & ROSES 6 has been canceled,” a statement signed by festival founder Chris Mitrovich reads in part. “In all transparency, the financial devastation of the 2023 show has made it impossible to sustain the weight of the new production.”
It was not immediately clear what the “financial devastation” relating to last year’s show was, but the 2024 show was canceled just 10 days before the first day was set to kick off. The festival had been held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds each year since it began in 2017.
While the news of the cancelation was likely bad enough for fans, the statement also informed ticket holders that they won’t be receiving refunds.
“While tickets and hotels were sold on a non-refundable basis, we sincerely wish that funds were available to refund all purchases,” the statement says. “Unfortunately, this is simply not the case at this time.”
It was not immediately clear why patrons wouldn’t receive refunds, or if the scheduled acts would still be compensated.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, tickets started at $60 for a single-day general admission pass and $600 for VIP. The Chronicle reports that some who purchased through Eventbrite successfully refunded their tickets.
The three-day festival was set to include Grateful Dead-adjacent acts like Golden Gate Wingmen, Sage & Spirits and Dark Star Orchestra.
Mitrovich said the future of the festival beyond 2024 was unclear.