People who are planning on attending a music festival in Leduc that kicks off Thursday are being warned about safety concerns surrounding the festival.
Leduc County said Wednesday that organizers for the Mad Hatter Music Festival, scheduled to take place from Aug. 23 to 27, have failed to meet safety requirements set out by the county.
"We did ask to see an emergency plan as well as plans to bring in additional security, first aid responders and health permits," said Leila Daoud, spokesperson for Leduc County.
"To date we haven't seen any of those plans."
The county says its planning department had been working with festival organizers to ensure that safety and security standards were in place, however organizers “refused to move the date of the festival to allow for public safety plans to be put into place.”
The county says it can’t cancel the festival – but has denied it a permit and says the festival is "not welcome in Leduc." The county is warning those attending should be aware of safety issues.
Organizers for The Mad Hatter Festival - which will include four stages, dozens of performers and hundreds of people, say they're moving ahead despite the county's warning.
The festival will take place on private property and organizers are talking it up as a family event.
"We have no intention of being disrespectful, but with that knowledge, we could just play music all the time. Anyone could in this area," said organizer Sarah Dantzer.
"(We're) just trying to throw a block party here."
Dantzer says the festival is insured and organizers will be responsible.
With files from Sean Amato
