Promoter of Float Fest on San Marcos River likely to appeal permit denial

More than 10,000 party goers packed the annual Float Fest along the San Marcos River over the weekend of July 22-23, 2017. More than 10,000 party goers packed the annual Float Fest along the San Marcos River over the weekend of July 22-23, 2017. Photo: Kody Melton For MySA Photo: Kody Melton For MySA Image 1 of / 206 Caption Close Promoter of Float Fest on San Marcos River likely to appeal permit denial 1 / 206 Back to Gallery

Plans for the fifth annual Float Fest on the San Marcos River in July hit a snag when Guadalupe County Commissioners’ denied a requested permit to host up to 30,000 people — twice last year’s attendance.

Promoter Marcus Federman of Current Events LLC is expected to appeal the decision to district court, but neither he nor his attorney returned calls for comment Wednesday.

RELATED: Why Float Fest neighbors don't want the festival

Since 2014, Federman has steadily expanded the scope of the summer music and tubing event outside Martindale, much to the dismay of nearby residents and businesses upset by the accompanying noise, traffic jams and rowdy tubers.

The requested permit said this year’s event was to take place July 20-22. Without a permit, which is required for any mass gathering of more than 5,000 people, the event cannot be held legally. When the commissioners court denied the permit for last year’s event, however, Federman vowed it would go on as planned. And it did.

The roughly five-hour hearing on Tuesday concluded with County Judge Kyle Kutscher and Commissioners Judy Cope and Jack Shanafelt voting to reject the permit.

Commissioners Jim Wolverton and Greg Seideneberger dissented.

RELATED: Botánica Music & Arts Festival announces overhaul, cutting of major acts

The court’s decision was welcomed by those who don’t like the event.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Tom Goynes, who owns a riverside campground, said Wednesday of the denial. “We can’t operate when the Float Fest is going on. I can’t put Boy Scouts and church groups on the river.”

To find out more about why the dissenting commissioners think Federman has a case in seeking a district court ruling to force the county to approve the permit, go to expressnews.com