Regina Mayor responds to controversial music festival

Potential policy changes are being pondered after a controversial music festival in Regina.

Over the long weekend of September, the Sweet Escape Music Festival at Victoria Park has been criticized for its lack of security, issues with the beer gardens, and artists who say they were not paid for performing.

Read More:

• Artists wanted for Regina’s oldest tree commemoration project
• Performances in Victoria Park highlight National Indigenous Peoples Day
• ‘Super duper excited’: Kids release ladybugs at Victoria Park
• Attendance up, security incidents down at 2024 Queen City Ex

Mayor Sandra Masters said on the Greg Morgan Morning Show that groups can just apply for — and obtain — a permit to be in the park.

“I think it blends itself into the bigger question… Putting these things on is hard and expensive and crowd control with security is important and paying your artists is kind of number one,” Masters said.

“It’s incredibly unfortunate and it doesn’t look good.”

Masters suggested some changes might be needed to ensure the city’s reputation is maintained.

“When it comes to concerts in terms of ticket purchasing and coming to the events and having good — peaceful events — that are celebratory, are incredibly important for the reputation of the city,” she said.

“From a policy perspective, if we are going to be doing these things, maybe we should be looking for confirmation.”

The Sweet Escape Music Festival organizers have plans to bring Sweet Escape Fest back next year, saying it will be “bigger, better and stronger.”