On April 2, a press statement was released on their official Facebook page, stating that officials will investigate Circus Music Festival’s “deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales practices.” According to the post, they are contacting the organizers to address the 42 complaints sent towards the government agency.
Circus Music Festival, the music event lauded for blending hip-hop and rock acts into a unified experience appears to have strained its operations for its sixth edition, culminating in significant attendee complaints regarding overcrowding and unmet paid perks.
Days before the festival, organizers announced on Facebook that promised attendee freebies including T-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, and bucket hats, would not be available due to delayed shipments. The disclosure sparked immediate backlash from ticket holders, many of whom had purchased premium passes expecting these perks. Further complicating matters, the festival’s merchandise supplier claimed on social media that while all items had been produced, delivery was withheld due to outstanding payments from organizers.
Due to the lack of crowd barriers separating each audience section, folks collectively gathered together in the front section, causing an overcrowded section right up the very front near the stage, leaving only disappointment to those who would watch the bands comfortably.
The situation escalated when actor Chuckie Dreyfus called out organizers on social media, criticizing both the missing merchandise and inadequate crowd control measures. “Worst of all? You disabled comments on your Facebook page seemingly to silence ticket holders who feel just as scammed,” Dreyfus wrote. “That’s not just unprofessional — that’s cowardly.”
In a March 31 statement, Circus Music Festival acknowledged making partial payments to the supplier but did not address why merchandise failed to reach attendees saying, “We will not allow this injustice go unanswered. We are pursuing legal, criminal, and civil actions to hold those responsible accountable.” As of press time, the supplier has not publicly responded to the festival’s claims.
With the Department of Trade and Industry being involved in the investigation, hopes of refunds and transparency will be normalized between the organizers to ensure a safe and hassle-free experience for patrons moving forward. With plans to become one of the region’s most frequent music festivals, organizers now face mounting pressure to demonstrate they can scale both their ambitions and their execution.
