Hempfest will be back in Myrtle Edwards Park this summer. The City of Seattle reached agreement with Hempfest organizers who had filed a lawsuit when the city tried to block the pro marijuana event.
City officials originally said that construction of the Thomas Stret overpass would not make it possible to hold Hempfest at Myrtle Edwards this year. Organizers tried to move to the Seattle Center but permission was denied for that site.
The City will now issue a permit for Hampfest 2011 to take place on August 19, 20 and 21 at Myrtle Edwards. The event will take place over three days, even though the request for a third day was denied last year. Hempfest organizers say they need a third day to spread out the crowd which attracts large numbers of people to the park each year. From the City Attorney?s Office today:
Planned construction of the Thomas Street Overpass project in Myrtle Edwards Park this summer created a potential conflict with the festival, prompting Hempfest to file a lawsuit. The City and Hempfest quickly reached a compromise where Hempfest agreed to postpone its request for immediate relief from the Court and the City agreed to solicit alternative bids for the project that would allow Hempfest to be held in the park. When the bids were announced on March 16, it was clear that the construction timetable would not interfere with the festival. The City and Hempfest then entered into a memorandum of understanding that will allow the festival to proceed at Myrtle Edwards Park in August 2011.
Over 40,000 people attend the annual event, causing lots of traffic congestion on 15th Ave West. Hempfest is the largest gathering of hemp and marijuana reform speakers in the world and features entertainment and a variety of vendors.