Two-day ‘political rally and music festival’ Cantanna Fest coming to Lincoln Park in August after last-minute venue change

Thanks for the tip! A major regional festival in its second year has just changed venues – and its new location is Lincoln Park. The event is The Cantanna Fest, with three music stages, food vendors, and a car show – plus cannabis-industry advocacy – scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, August 10-11. Reached via email, organizer Scott McKinley explained to WSB, “We had this event scheduled for Snohomish for the last year and just lost our venue and the switch to West Seattle is a last-minute one. This is a political rally/music festival centered around creating a 20-point bill of rights for Cannabis in the state and searching for a candidate to run for a Senate seat.” McKinley says he and co-founder Redman launched Cantanna Fest last year, when it was held in Renton, and says the highlights will include “Shawn Kemp is main-stage host, Donald Glaude as host of the EDM Forest, and Peter Dante is host of the Robert Lang Studios Stage celebrating 50 years of music.” The music lineups are on the festival website. Because this will be a “free-speech event in a city park,” admission will be free, but they’re selling “VIP access” tickets as an option. (And in case you’re wondering, given the cannabis-industry advocacy, the festival website has the caveat, “This IS NOT an open consumption event. It is open to the public and all ages are welcome to this community event.” They are planning adult-beverage areas for 21+, though.) We asked exactly where in the park the Cantanna Fest stages will be. While the locations and map aren’t finalized, they’re focusing on several areas of upper Lincoln Park accessible from the north lot. We’re still gathering other information, including hours.

JustSarah July 25, 2024 (12:31 pm)

If you thought the birds would be bothered by pickleball, LOL.

AMD July 25, 2024 (12:36 pm)

Will this be louder than pickleball?

Thomas July 25, 2024 (12:41 pm)

What? I mean, wow this is cool and sounds fun. But to my knowledge there has never been a large event like this in LP, and it really isn’t set up for it at all. Just cause it’s a public park doesn’t mean it’s possible to use for an event. Are we talking thousands of people? Bathrooms for them planned? And post even cleanup? I’m really not opposed to this and am even excited to go…but guys, this is a huge logistical nightmare. It seems very poorly thought through. I give it 50/50 odds of actually happening.

JustSarah July 25, 2024 (1:01 pm)

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It’s not unprecedented. There was a *huge* Sesame Street event in LP in 2019 (https://westseattleblog.com/2019/07/sesame-street-event-to-bring-thousands-to-lincoln-park-later-this-month/). I live near the park and traffic was awful due to everyone looking for parking, but overall it was fine.
- Beepee July 25, 2024 (2:09 pm)
  
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  I don’t know, did sesame street have EDM dance stages and beer gardens ?

Alki resident July 25, 2024 (12:53 pm)

But but what about the birds? Shouldn’t they get approval first? 🤣

Colby July 25, 2024 (12:55 pm)

Little known fact, birds love EDM (electronic dance music)!

yesyes July 25, 2024 (1:36 pm)

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I hope the event is successful so there will be more free events to follow.Little known fact, the paddle sounds of the pickleballs goes well with the EDM (electronic dance music)

Barred owls are invasive July 25, 2024 (1:05 pm)

Prepare yourselves for a petition to save the (invasive) barred owl ears from this event!

Patrick July 25, 2024 (1:13 pm)

This is going to be a blast and I’m bringing my pickle ball racket too.

Ivan Weiss July 25, 2024 (1:29 pm)

What does he mean “searching for a candidate to run for a Senate seat?” Does he mean state Senate or U.S. Senate. And who might he be seeking to replace?

Mel July 25, 2024 (1:33 pm)

Hmm as someone who has friends that attended this event last year, it’s really not kid friendly. I’m thinking about the open spaces in Lincoln park and both are right next to playgrounds and the wading pool.

Is Parks High? July 25, 2024 (1:35 pm)

Just wow. The City of Seattle clearly could not care less about this jewel of a park. Not the wildlife, not the local park goers who come here for quiet reflection, and not the immediate neighbors. A quick scroll through last year’s pics will show that they intend a large MainStage with hundreds of music enthusiasts — the questions about sanitation and garbage pickup earlier are spot on. And they have already removed MOST of the garbage cans without warning or explanation. This is a disaster in the making. It’s clear that at this late date that LP is some kind of fallback plan for these promoters. Guessing they got bounced from another venue or two? Seattle Parks is jus happy to take their money, they don’t care. It’s really time for some kind of Lincoln Park Protection group to form, that demands oversight for such venues as this. Given the chance, I’d vote “hell no.” I bet most who truly love the park would as well.