Alabama’s BayFest Calls It Quits

Next month was supposed to mark the 21st edition of BayFest Music Festival, with a lineup featuring Slash, Three Days Grace, Cage The Elephant and more. Instead, organizers announced this week that not only is the 2015 event canceled, but the festival “will cease operations” altogether.

BayFest – which touted itself as “Alabama’s largest music festival – was scheduled Oct. 2-4 in downtown Mobile. Additional acts were supposed to include Kip Moore, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Randy Houser, Eli Young Band, Justin Moore, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Willie Clayton, Eric Paslay, and Manchester Orchestra.

Photo: AP Photo / AL.com, Mike Brantley

Mobile Bayfest, Downtown Mobile, Ala.

The following statement was posted on the festival’s website Wednesday:

“BayFest Music Festival will cease operations!

“For 20 years, BayFest has brought a variety of music to the streets of downtown Mobile. BayFest Board of Directors has seen a decline in support and interest and will discontinue the festival and additional events including the BayFest 5K & Fun Run.

“BayFest would like to thank all of our sponsors and patrons over the years that have helped in the growth to become Alabama’s largest music festival!

“Tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase.

“For more information and questions visit www.bayfest.com, email [email protected] or call 251.208.7835.

“BayFest Music Festival is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation that has brought family-friendly entertainment to Downtown Mobile for the past twenty years. The festival has generated in excess of $425 million in tax revenue for the Mobile economy since its inception in 1995. BayFest has given back to the Gulf Coast community through dispersing $120,000 in scholarships to high school students!”