Festival fury after RedFest cancelled over date dispute

RedFest is off, after a bitter date dispute exploded into a political storm, with volunteers, organisers and residents trading blame over Redland’s biggest cancelled event.

Redland city’s popular RedFest has been cancelled for 2025 after a dispute with the council over holding the event on the second weekend in September. Pictures: The Courier-Mail

Redland’s most prominent annual event, RedFest, has been cancelled for 2025 after a dispute over a date in September between the festival committee and Redland City Council, a move Mayor Jos Mitchell has labelled “unfortunate”.

The decision has sparked community-wide debate, with RedFest organisers expressing disappointment over the council’s refusal to accommodate their request to use the Cleveland Showgrounds on the second weekend in September.

Mayor Mitchell has defended the council’s position, stating that 11 alternative dates including the same weekend used last year, were offered but declined.

RedFest organisers, made up predominantly of volunteers, confirmed the cancellation in a public statement.

“After meeting with the mayor and many discussions with the Events Department since 2023, we are not able to lock in the second weekend of September 2025 for the festival,” the statement said.

“There will be no activities held at the Showgrounds on this weekend as per the decision of Redlands Council and its events department.

“Although we are still waiting for the response promised by the mayor, we have no choice but to inform the community that there will be no RedFest in 2025,” the statement said.

RedFest 2024, Redland Coast’s signature community festival, was held from September 6 to 8 last year at the Redlands Showgrounds. While specific attendance figures for the 2024 event are not publicly available, the festival has historically attracted large crowds, with thousands of attendees enjoying the diverse entertainment, food stalls, and family-friendly activities. Picture: The Courier-Mail

RedFest was the biggest event at the Showgrounds in 2024 and organisers said the council made it clear it preferred a smaller commercial event to be held that weekend.

Mayor Mitchell said RedFest had an agreement with the council and was offered the first weekend in September, the same weekend as last year.

However, she said the organisers wanted the second weekend which wasn’t available due required times to prepare and clean up the grounds for another long-standing, high-profile event.

The mayor met with two RedFest committee members and referred their concerns to council chief executive Louise Rusan, who responded and informed all councillors.

Some of the rides at RedFest.

“I think it’s unfortunate that the RedFest Committee has decided to cancel their event,” Mayor Mitchell said.

“My hope is that they work collaboratively with the council to come up with a solution to be able to hold the event in the future.”

The cancellation has triggered a wave of online commentary, with many locals voicing anger and disappointment.

“It is disappointing to see the organisers use this as a political tool against the Mayor, when they were offered so many alternative dates,” one commenter wrote on Facebook.

Others called for leadership change within the committee: “Perhaps next year a new committee should be formed,” one user said.

Despite the clash, Mayor Mitchell said the door remained open and she hoped organisers would be prepared to work with the council to find a solution.

For now, the city’s most iconic festival is off the calendar, leaving many residents wondering what will fill the gap in 2025.

Originally published as Festival fury after RedFest cancelled over date dispute