The Lassen County Board of Supervisors is set to discuss a request from Interim Fair Manager Samantha McMullen for additional funds to cover expenses from August’s Hidden Woods Music Festival, which, despite praise as a progressive addition to the Lassen County Fairgrounds, resulted in a substantial financial shortfall. Yet some loss was anticipated from former Fair Manager Kaitlyn Midgley who spearheaded the new event. According to McMullen’s report, Hidden Woods has incurred a total loss thus far of $364,752.27.
McMullen has requested the Board’s approval to pay an additional $31,750 to Mason Entertainment, the company responsible for procuring entertainment for the festival. In her memo, McMullen explained that Mason Entertainment has a long-standing relationship with the Lassen County Fair, securing acts for over a decade with a typical service cost of $500-$7,500, depending on the entertainer’s fee. However, due to the high-profile acts and the scale of the festival, the fees for Hidden Woods were significantly higher. The requested amount reflects two invoices for services provided, without a pre-established contract, though McMullen noted that a contract for future services is being drafted to formalize the arrangement.
Mason Entertainment charges a standard 10% fee for all entertainment acts it procures, which contributed to the event’s heightened expenses. McMullen’s memo also includes a profit and loss spreadsheet detailing the festival’s revenues and expenses to provide transparency on the event’s financial performance.
The Board previously approved festival-related expenditures of over $308,000 in August and an additional $85,324 in October. The new request has prompted additional scrutiny on the financial management of events at the fairgrounds, especially given the significant losses from the festival.
The supervisors will decide today whether to approve the requested payment or direct staff for further action, as the fairgrounds work towards evaluating long-term sustainability.
