Cannifest Music Festival Forced to Cancel Blue Lake Plans

Scheduling conflicts and bureaucratic hurdles derail plans to host the annual event in Blue Lake this year.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The organizers of the Cannifest music, art, and trade festival had hoped to relocate the event to Blue Lake this September, but a scheduling conflict with another major event and bureaucratic requirements from the city have forced them to cancel those plans. The festival's founder, Stephen Gieder, says the city was "doing everything they could to try to deter us" from hosting Cannifest in Blue Lake.

Why it matters

Cannifest is a popular annual event that draws cannabis enthusiasts and music fans to Humboldt County. The potential partnership with the renowned Dell'Arte International theater company in Blue Lake was seen as a way to boost the festival's profile and provide much-needed funding for the struggling arts organization. The inability to host the festival in Blue Lake this year is a setback for both Cannifest and Dell'Arte.

The details

Gieder, the organizer of Cannifest, said he was surprised to learn that the festival's targeted dates of September 11-13 conflicted with the already-permitted Mad River Enduro mountain bike event in Blue Lake's Perigot Park. City Manager Jennie Short said this scheduling conflict was the main complication. Gieder was also told he would need to obtain a Conditional Use Permit and conduct an environmental review under CEQA, which he felt would make it impossible to plan the festival in time. Artemis Pebdani, the new chair of Dell'Arte's board, said the organization is "bummed" that Cannifest won't be happening at their venue this year, but is hopeful about hosting larger events like this in Blue Lake in the future.

  • Cannifest was originally planned for September 11-13, 2026.
  • The Mad River Enduro mountain bike event had already secured permits to use Perigot Park in Blue Lake on those dates.

The players

Stephen Gieder

The organizer of the Cannifest music, art, and trade festival through his company Humboldt Green Events, LLC.

Jennie Short

The City Manager of Blue Lake, who cited the scheduling conflict with the Mad River Enduro event as the main complication in hosting Cannifest.

Artemis Pebdani

The new chair of the board of directors for Dell'Arte International, the theater company and fine arts school in Blue Lake that had hoped to host Cannifest as a potential fundraiser.

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What they’re saying

“The folks in charge [at the city] are gonna make it a nightmare for us. I wouldn't want to do something in the town at this point.”

— Stephen Gieder, Organizer, Cannifest (lostcoastoutpost.com)

“I have inquired on alternative dates for his event [Cannifest] and have not received a response. [Gieder] was invited to set up a meeting with the City Planner to discuss the details. To date he has not indicated that he would like to do so.”

— Jennie Short, City Manager, Blue Lake (lostcoastoutpost.com)

“That said, we're actually really hopeful about festivals like this going forward. If nothing else, this process opened the door for real conversations about hosting larger events like this in Blue Lake, and that feels like progress. Cannifest 2027, anyone??”

— Artemis Pebdani, Board Chair, Dell'Arte International (lostcoastoutpost.com)

What’s next

Gieder says he has a couple of potential alternative locations for Cannifest this year, but is waiting to make an announcement until he obtains "the full sign-off."

The takeaway

The inability to host Cannifest in Blue Lake this year is a setback for both the festival and the Dell'Arte International theater company, which had hoped to partner on the event as a potential fundraiser. However, the process has opened the door for future conversations about hosting larger events in Blue Lake, suggesting there may be opportunities for Cannifest to find a new home in the community in the years to come.