csicoverage posted on September 15, 2011 16:43
HENRY COUNTY, Ga. -- A music festival in celebration of service men and women has been abruptly canceled.
The four-day Heroes Musical Festival was set to take place at the Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, but it was called off Friday morning. More than 15 music acts were lined up. Organizers blamed the cancellation on an investor.
“In a contract agreement, we aligned with an investor who demonstrated what we thought was the same passion and commitment, and we are just as surprised and devastated as the artists, vendors, and all involved, that our investor elected to walk away from the project early this morning,” Charles DeJournett said in a news release.
Barbara Bailey and her family traveled 130 miles from Wrightsville to attend the event, only to find food, rides and no music.
"We spent every penny we had getting up here," Bailey said. Bailey hoped to work the event as a vendor. "It's bad business. That's all I can say. If you are going to be somewhere, be there and do it," she said.
Fred Proctor told Channel 2's Michael Buczyner he paid $1,200 to sell sunglasses at the festival and isn't sure he'll get that money back.
"It's called the hero festival and look what they did to these guys. It's a bad situation," said Proctor.
DeJournett said would-be attendees are being notified of the news, and “We will address ticket refunds and vendor relations immediately thereafter.” Organizers said anyone with a ticket to the festival should get a refund.