Weekender Ends Early With Security Clashes

The Weekender festival was scheduled to go from Nov. 4 to the morning of Nov. 6 at Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony, Pa., and was supposed to be a nonstop party for two days in a high-end resort with 12 on-site performance locations.

However, the event was terminated around 2 a.m. on Nov. 5 when issues with venue security and local police started to create what organizers considered unsafe conditions.

Problems reportedly started when security began searching and detaining one festivalgoer during a performance. Tensions subsequently arose and security and law enforcement began using force to subdue members of the crowd in what was becoming an increasingly chaotic situation. Witnesses told Vice News that guests were pepper sprayed and detained by law enforcement and security.

Organizers issued a statement throwing Split Rock’s security directly under the bus, calling their actions “wildly inappropriate, breaching clear terms outlined with them.” The statement goes on to say that the New York-based promoters had tried to use their own security staff, but the venue was insistent on using its locals.

The statement confirms there was at least one woman arrested, although it was anticipated that she would be released by press time. It also says another individual suffered “grievous bodily harm from the head of local security at the resort” and promised legal assistance to the two.

“Those local law enforcement and security showed a shocking lack of respect and professionalism to our attendees. We established a detailed framework for how they were to act and keep the event running safely and smoothly; these protocol were consistently broken, and we will be investigating our recourse in this respect,” the statement reads.

The Blood Orange and Kamasi Washington-headlined event was sponsored by Ray-Ban and Boiler Room and was the inaugural edition of the festival.

Split Rock seems to be having a run of tough luck as the Pennsylvania Music Festival, which was supposed to feature royal Southern Brotherhood Oct. 29-30, was canceled due to poor ticket sales. The venue did successfully host the Pennsylvania Blues Festival several months ago.