cannabisnews.com: Music Festival Ends on Sour Note!





Music Festival Ends on Sour Note!
Posted by FoM on August 23, 1999 at 08:06:30 PT
By Jeff Kass
Source: Inside Denver
Police broke up a secretive annual music festival, sometimes called the Bong-A-Thon, in Larimer County this weekend, and dozens were accused of drug-related offenses, the sheriff's office said Sunday.
Sgt. Justin Smith said 24 people were arrested and booked into the county jail, while another 18 were given summonses. Most of the offenses were drug-related. Marijuana, cocaine and other drugs were involved, Smith said.A bong is a water pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana.The event is also called the Colorado Invitational and has been around for 25 years, said Commerce City resident Paul Rider, who has attended for the past four years. "This year, it became Bust-A-Thon 1999," said Rider, 33.The event at Elk Meadows Ranch north of Red Feather Lakes was set to run Friday through Sunday with 14 bands, according to the sheriff's office. Smith said up to 2,000 people showed up by Saturday morning; approximately 100 law enforcement officers participated in the sweep.The sheriff found out about the event and doubted that proper health and safety requirements could be met for the estimated 1,000 people.But a Larimer County District Court judge told the sheriff that he could not stop a private gathering if no admission was charged and there was no illegal activity.Still, the sheriff's office monitored the event Friday night and found drug use, according to Smith. Organizers were also charging $40 admission.The event was cleared out by noon, Smith said.Among those arrested were property owner Michael J. Davis, 37, of Lakewood and event promoter Christopher T. Lopez of Littleton, Smith said. Both were arrested at Elk Meadows Ranch on drug complaints.Smith said there was no violence.Rider said the gathering has always been peaceful when he attended. At Elk Meadows, people camped out and drank keg beer, one of the event perks.Obtaining an invitation is based on who you know. Rider said he paid $35 for a laminated invitation, which he received from a friend. Rider didn't know the organizers.The location often changes, and event-goers are not informed of the place until days before. But Rider said the event was held in the same location last year. A previous location was Safari Ranch in South Park.The event appears to be quirky and sophisticated.The invitation to commemorate the 23rd annual event was a mock $23 bill, Rider said. Yet invitations also include liability waivers on the back. Because alcohol is served, Rider said, event-goers must be 21, and he added that most of the participants are in their 20s to 40s."It's more of a '60s atmosphere," Rider said, likening the event to a Grateful Dead show.Rider was bothered that the authorities ended the event because a handful of people were caught with drugs. But he hoped for another Bong-A-Thon next year."I'll go again," he said.August 23, 1999 
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Comment #1 posted by cleg on May 13, 2001 at 09:02:13 PT:
bong-a-thon
keep up the good work and never put the bong down!
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