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Billy McFarland Is Selling Fyre Fest

Founder says disaster-prone brand will do better 'without me at the helm'

(Newser) - It seems clear that Fyre Fest 2, the sequel to the disastrous 2017 Fyre Fest , won't be taking place next month in Mexico—but it looks like whatever happens next with the beleaguered music festival won't involve founder Billy McFarland . "It's time to pass the torch,...

Fyre Fest 2 Goes the Way Everyone Thought It Would

Billy McFarland's attempt to redeem himself after first disastrous Fyre Fest has been postponed

(Newser) - The prospect of a Fyre Fest 2 has gone from "probably" to "well, maybe not" to a hard "no"—at least for now. Organizers of the music fest, whose first incarnation in the Bahamas in 2017 was an infamous disaster, have announced they're postponing the...

Fire Tears Through Tents at Earth's Biggest Religious Fest

No injuries reported at India's Maha Kumbh festival

(Newser) - A fire tore through at least 18 temporary tents at a massive Hindu festival thronged by millions of people in India's northern Prayagraj city, officials said Sunday. There were no injuries, the AP reports. The blaze was caused by the explosion of a gas cylinder and was contained by...

At This Year's Oktoberfest, a Big Security First

Metal detectors have been added in Munich after attack in Germany city of Solingen in August

(Newser) - Germany's Oktoberfest is open. Mayor Dieter Reiter officially started Oktoberfest at noon local time on Saturday when he inserted the tap into the first beer keg, signaling the 189th start of the festival. Thousands of beer lovers celebrated at the Munich fairground as the first to clink their mugs...

Woman Dies on First Day of 2024 Burning Man

Details on what happened were scant

(Newser) - Burning Man's first day of 2024 had a note of tragedy: Organizers say a woman was found unresponsive late Sunday morning and couldn't be revived, reports NBC News . Authorities have released no further details about the death in the Nevada desert, including the woman's age or identity,...

The 1975's Frontman Kissed His Bandmate, Gets Sued

Matty Healy was protesting Malaysia's anti-LGBTQ+ laws; music fest organizers want $2.4M

(Newser) - The organizers of a music festival in Malaysia are suing the 1975 for $2.4 million, accusing the UK pop band of breaching its contract after lead singer Matty Healy went on the attack against the Southeast Asian nation's anti-LGBTQ+ rules. Variety reports that the incident took place during...

Break Out the Beer Steins, Lederhosen

Oktoberfest has kicked off in Munich

(Newser) - The beer is flowing and millions of people are descending on the Bavarian capital to celebrate the official opening of Oktoberfest. With the traditional cry of "O'zapft is!" — "It's tapped!"— Mayor Dieter Reiter inserted the tap in the first keg at noon...

Greta Thunberg Bows Out of Event Over 'Greenwashing'

Climate activist cites sponsorship from investment firm with ties to fossil fuels

(Newser) - Greta Thunberg has pulled out of an international book festival, where she was slated to discuss her recent book on climate change, due to what she claims is "greenwashing" by the festival's main sponsor. The climate activist said she would not attend the Edinburgh International Book Festival, to...

Fyre Fest II 'Finally Happening,' Says Failed Fyre Fest Founder

Billy McFarland is teasing second music festival, details still unknown, after going to jail for first one

(Newser) - A year after his release from prison, the founder of the failed Fyre Festival is teasing round two. "Fyre Festival II is finally happening. Tell me why you should be invited," Billy McFarland tweeted Sunday. He hasn't revealed details but suggested the event would again take place...

For First Time Since 2019, Oktoberfest Taps Its Kegs

German beer fest in Munich was canceled in 2020, 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic

(Newser) - The beer is flowing at Munich's world-famous Oktoberfest for the first time since 2019. With three knocks of a hammer and the traditional cry of "O'zapft is!" ("It's tapped!"), Mayor Dieter Reiter inserted the tap in the first keg at noon local...

Shooting at Pride Fest Leaves 2 Dead, 10 Seriously Injured

Police investigating mass shooting in Norwegian capital of Oslo as possible terror attack

(Newser) - A gunman opened fire in Oslo's nightlife district early Saturday, killing two people and leaving 10 seriously wounded in what police are investigating as a possible terrorist attack during the Norwegian capital's annual Pride festival. Investigators said the suspect, identified as a 42-year-old Norwegian citizen originally from Iran,...

3-Year-Old Girl Goes Airborne at Kite Festival

The Taiwanese crowd is shocked as girl twists in the air

(Newser) - A 3-year-old girl in Taiwan was reported safe after becoming caught in the strings of a kite and lifted several meters into the air, the AP reports. The unidentified girl was taking part in a kite festival Sunday in the seaside town of Nanlioao when she was caught up by...

Burning Man Says It Is Being Gouged by Feds

Organizers say excessive fees are endangering festival

(Newser) - There are no ATMs at the freewheeling Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert—but organizers say the federal government is treating them like one. In a lawsuit filed earlier this month, festival organizers accuse the Bureau of Land Management of overcharging them in annual fees over the last seven...

Area 51 Fest Organizer: Facebook 'Reckless' to Dump Event

Facebook's removal of event does little to staunch interest

(Newser) - More than 2 million people said they'd take part in a raid on Area 51, and more than 1.4 million said they were interested, before Facebook finally had enough. The platform deleted the joke event on Saturday, claiming it violated community standards, according to a screenshot posted by...

Camels Busted for Botox in Pageant Scandal

At least 12 kicked out of Saudi festival

(Newser) - Saudi Arabia is holding its annual monthlong camel festival—and cheaters are not welcome. With around $60 million up for grabs in races and show competitions, unscrupulous owners have been drugging animals and even giving them Botox injections in an attempt to win camel beauty pageants, the National reports. At...

Organizers Sorry for 'Unacceptable' Luxury Festival Chaos

They're going to try again in the US

(Newser) - After delivering a "luxury" festival experience so bad some attendees likened it to The Lord of the Flies, the people behind the Fyre Festival have promised much better things next time around. In a statement to Billboard , festival co-owners Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule give their side of...

Phoenix Bans Old West-Style Shooting Game at July 4 Fest

City 'not comfortable' showing guns 'in a fun or glorified way'

(Newser) - An Arizona couple's Old West-style shooting game will not be among the activities at a July Fourth celebration in Phoenix on Monday night, the AP reports. Pete and Valerie Fowler say Prescott Pete's Highfalutin Shooting Gallery was deemed inappropriate by organizers of Fabulous Phoenix 4th. According to a...

Dozens Report Sexual Assaults at German Festival

More women are expected to come forward

(Newser) - Some 26 women have filed sexual assault complaints following a music festival in Darmstadt, Germany—and another 15 are expected to come forward. The 26 victims reported being "surrounded" by men who "touched and fondled" them at the Schlossgrabenfest on Saturday, reports the Evening Standard . Another 15 were...

Panic at Zombie Fest as Gunfire Kills One, Injures 4

Florida police are seeking public's help in finding shooter at Fort Myers' ZombiCon

(Newser) - A Florida festival celebrating the undead turned into a real-life nightmare Saturday night after a shooting left one person dead at the scene and four injured, CNN reports. As the four injured were whisked to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, police in Fort Myers began searching for a still-at-large...

Turkey Testicle Festival Gets Competition

Festival in suburban Chicago has an imitator in East Dundee

(Newser) - The owner of a suburban Chicago pub that has held an annual Turkey Testicle Festival for 32 years isn't testy at all that a nearby community plans to host its own celebration of the unusual dish this November. J.R. Westberg, who owns the Parkside Pub in Huntley, told...

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