Festival City Says Join in the Fun – or Pay €500 Fine
from Guardian News
Every June for centuries, Pisa, Italy and its leaning tower have been illuminated by thousands of candles and oil lamps to celebrate its patron saint, Ranieri, in one of the most atmospheric festivals in Tuscany, Italy. But, for the first time, participation in the Luminara festival will be compulsory under a new city law, with police set to roam the twinkling city to slap fines of up to €500 on anyone caught without a candle in their window. More

Business Leaders Pick Up Tab for Lakers Parade
from Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles taxpayers can enjoy a victory parade for the newly minted NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers without worrying about the bill. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said that private donors have pledged to pay the estimated $900,000 cost of providing police and fire protection and city street services for the celebration, ensuring that no tax dollars will be necessary. More

Concerns Over Violence At Festivals
from TMJ-TV4
The Locust Street Festival in Milwaukee has a reputation as a safe festival. It's been a popular event for 33 years. That's why the shooting of a man in the middle of the festival has come as a shock to many. TMJ4 cameras were there as the victim was rushed to the hospital after being shot at the festival. The gunshot ran out in the middle of the crowd. Because of the loud music, many people couldn't tell what was happening. More

Cancel Mass Events to Contain Flu
from The Age
Victoria, Australia should consider cancelling mass gatherings including Australian Football League games to stem its swine flu outbreak, the World Health Organization says. But Premier John Brumby says there is no need for such measures. More

Organizers Offer Refunds After Shoreline Music-Food Event Fiasco
from Silicon Valley Mercury News
A recent concert at the Shoreline Amphitheater — the second problem-plagued event at the Mountain View, Calif., venue in less than a month — also left organizers with more than heartburn. They are scrambling to deal with thousands of complaints from customers who had to stand up to five hours in line for food and endure a meltdown of a high-tech electronic bracelet pay system. More

Authorities Block Chinese Gay Pride Events
from AFP
Organizers of Shanghai's gay pride week said that authorities had cancelled several key activities in the event, the first-ever in a country where homosexuality remains largely in the closet. The screening of a film and the performance of a play were stopped at the last minute by city officials, a spokesman for organizers Shanghai LGBT told AFP on condition of anonymity. More

Non-Profit Festival Facing Big Parking Up-charge
from WDSU-TV
Organizers of one of St. Tammany Parish Louisiana's oldest festivals say greed could compromise its cause if Pelican Park organizers go forward with a plan to charge $20,000 for parking. The Mandeville Seafood Festival wants to use the land for parking, like they did last year. But park administrators want to raise their fees and charge for the use of the park. More

Senate Agrees to Proceed With Tourism Bill
from CQ Politics
The measure would create a private company to advertise the United States as a tourist destination to foreigners. The company would be funded by private contributions matched by up to $100 million a year from the federal government. The bill also would establish assessments, including a $10-per-trip fee on foreign travelers, to help pay for the government's matching funds. More

NEA Reports Decline in Arts Audiences for 2008
from Los Angeles Times
Audiences for the arts in the U.S. continue to decline and age at significant rates, according to a report released by the National Endowment for the Arts. But the Internet holds out hope, as more people are going online to experience culture. More

Bonnaroo 2009 Sees Attendance Increase Over Last Year's Festival Totals
from Ticket News
The 2009 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, held in Manchester, TN, did not sell out but was deemed a success by its promoters. They say the festival attracted nearly 80,000 fans, while The New York Times and other media outlets had it at about 75,000 concertgoers, possibly based on early estimations. More