California Roots Festival @ Monterey Fairgrounds

[Drunk Monk]

I've never worked Lightning in a Bottle because like BottleRock, it always coincides with CR. I've been invited. I think Zendo does it. 

[b]"Lightning in a Bottle"attendee speaks after festival deaths[/b]

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by David Kaplan
Friday, June 3rd 2022



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BUENA VISTA LAKE, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A "Lightning in a Bottle" event attendee who did not want to be identified said he got to the music festival at Buena Vista Lake, 13 miles from Taft, last Friday. By Saturday he was feeling dehydrated.
"Every other festival I've been too there's either water for sale or there's free water refill stations. This festival hardly had either," the Lightning in a Bottle attendee, said. "I couldn't find any water for sale, lot of alcohol for sale and they had one spicket for water, which looked like something you would clean your feet with. That was the only place you could get a coup and fill up water," he said.
He says he asked a bartender for ice, they said no. Then he asked if he could buy ice, but it was refused. Then he asked if he could buy ice but was refused.
He says a convenience store was selling ice for $15, but it was a 20 to 30 minute walk from all the dancing areas and the line was another half an hour wait.
He then went to the medical tent after feeling dehydrated.
"I was met rudely by one of the staff members who said we provide ice, you can buy that for $15 a bag, there is water refill, you can find that and you can go ask a bartender for a cup, so we are providing those amenities, there's no excuse," the Lightning in a Bottle attendee, said.
He says he then walked off the premises until he found a mini mart that had cold water and Gatorade. He then decided to leave the festival two days early.
The Kern County Fire Department announced over the five-day festival there were 30 emergency calls, 24 people transported to the hospital and two deaths.
The deaths were from what is being called "acute medical emergency".
Lighting in a Bottle event organizers gave Eyewitness News this statement:
"We are heartbroken to make our community aware of two medical emergencies that occurred in the Lightning in a Bottle campgrounds over the weekend that resulted in loss of life."
"Our deepest condolences are with the loved ones of these individuals. We grieve with you as members of this community..."
"My response to that is don't grieve. Grieving isn't caring. Take action, make changes, care, to make sure that this doesn't happen again," Lightning In A Bottle Attendee, said.
Lightning in A Bottle is not a new festival, but is newer to Kern County, first coming in 2019.
More than 27,000 people were right here last weekend.
The man says as it continues to grow, things need to change, to ensure everyone walks out safely.