VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach City Council will not send Something in the Water festival officials an official notice of breach after it failed to meet an end of the year deadline for ticketing and an announcement of performers.
In a 8-2 vote, council voted against sending the notice. Rather, it will defer it indefinitely and will get weekly updates from City Manager Patrick Duhaney, who is to be in contact with festival organizers.
Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer said he understands the frustration, but has faith the festival can happen.
“Let’s get to a cure, and I think that’s the operative word that we have to do, so we can put this together in a meaningful way, because it would have a profound economical impact on us,” Dyer said.
Originally, Dyer had proposed a resolution for council to consider that would sent festival organizers an official notice of “material breach” of their sponsorship agreement signed with the city in mid-November.
By Dec. 31, festival organizers were to have announced the festival’s musical lineup and begin selling tickets for the April 26-27 event at the Oceanfront.
Festival organizers had asked the city for an extension ahead of the deadline, which was originally implemented as part of several conditions in order for the city to financially support the festival after its abrupt postponement in October.
Dyer had threatened to cancel the event outright, saying delays “cannot be tolerated.”