2024 Float Fest abruptly canceled days before concert
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Days before Lil Wayne, The Kid LAROI and Jessie Murph were poised to play Float Fest 2024 in Austin, Ticketmaster confirmed the event had been canceled.
The event had been scheduled for Saturday at Circuit of the Americas' Germania Insurance Amphitheater. Ticketmaster said the event organizer canceled the event, adding ticketholders would receive a refund within 14 to 21 days.
Beyond Ticketmaster's acknowledgement, organizers haven't shared any statement or announcement on their website or social media.
Float Fest's operations in Central Texas have been tumultuous over the years. It originally operated for several years at Cool River Ranch along a stretch of the San Marcos River, where it faced noise complaints and concerns of excess litter from neighbors.
In October 2016, the Guadalupe County Commissioners Court initially denied organizers a mass-gathering permit for Float Fest, citing safety concerns with the event. Come December 2016, commissioners approved an updated permit, and the 2017 event went on as planned.
Float Fest continued in 2018 but came to a screeching halt in 2019. After being denied permits in San Marcos for the 2019 event, event organizers planned to relocate it to Gonzales, Texas. In June 2019, organizers confirmed the show wouldn't go on due to "several recent roadblocks" factoring into the event cancellation.
Float Fest didn't host an event in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, and no announcements were made for a 2021 concert. It returned to Gonzales in 2022 for a two-day concert series but didn't host anything in 2023.
Float Fest announced in March it would relocate off the water to the Germania Insurance Amphitheater, offering ticketholders a discounted pass from Texas State Tubes to float along the San Marcos River for a set timeframe near the concert date.