NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A hot air balloon festival planned in Nashville on Memorial Day weekend may be less than three months away, but it is deflating at least one vendor's hopes.
The business owner did not want to be identified out of fear of retaliation since the form she signed to become a vendor specifically said to not speak negatively about the event and post any negative comments on social media.
She was excited to become a vendor in hopes of getting more exposure to her new business. However, her excitement quickly turned into frustration.
The Nashville Balloon Festival is scheduled from May 24th until the 28th, according to its Facebook event page. Nearly 4,000 people say they are going with about 86,000 interested.
She applied in January but wanted out by the next month.
"They stopped responding, people were commenting wondering when stuff will go on sale, vendors were commenting wanting more information," she told NewsChannel 5.
She filled out the form from the Florida-based event organizer Midflo and paid an invoice of $150, but became concerned after what she describes as poor communication on Facebook messenger.
She was worried since there was still not mention of a location for the event less than three months out. Facebook messages with the company said it would be at Warner Parks. However, Metro Parks says it has not received a permit request for any balloon events that month.
"Events that are expecting such a large capacity take a long time to respond, it doesn't take the two months they have left," she said.
Nashville is one of multiple balloon events advertised throughout the country this year by Midflo, which has held numerous events since 2017.
Officials in at least two Florida cities, Seabring and Valdosta, with earlier events scheduled tell NewsChannel 5 they have not received a permit request either.
The festival could likely be held on private property, like the one last week in Homestead, Florida or next week at a retirement community in The Villages, Florida.
The woman also shared the same comments from residents in George where a balloon festival in Atlanta was delayed until August for weather reasons. They claim getting a refund is difficult, let alone getting in touch with someone.
The owner of Midflo, Richard Garvie, fired back saying there is more to the process of putting together an event like this. He never wanted to give too many details and sell tickets until everything was finalized.
Garvie claimed he would have given her a refund if she called him personally.
It is worth noting that she was directed to the website with an email and number that's not his cell phone, but she admits she did not see it.
Despite not having a permit right now, he said the event will continue. If so, Midflo has until mid-April to apply for a special events permit through Metro Public Works.
