DEL MAR — The planned return of the KAABOO music and arts festival to the Del Mar Fairgrounds next month will be delayed until 2025, organizers announced this week, posing another stumbling block in the event’s long-awaited relaunch.
The 22nd District Agricultural Association, the board managing the Fairgrounds, entered into a four-year contract with KABOO license holders last fall, planning for the festival to return in September 2024. It has been dormant since 2020, after a five-year run at the Fairgrounds from 2014 to 2019.
In the 11 months since the new contract, KAABOO never announced specific dates or a lineup for the 2024 festival or opened ticket sales.
Fairgrounds spokesman Tristan Hallman said that for large events like festivals and concert series, these details generally need to be finalized with enough time to begin advertising a few months after the actual event.
“We were getting to a point where they would have to make a decision in terms of a deposit. That was kind of the impetus for them ultimately making the decision. At some point, you either are ready, or you’re not,” Hallman said.
Fairgrounds leaders are now working with Festival Licensing and Acquisition Corporation, or FLAAC, on a contract amendment that will make the four-year period effective starting in 2025.
FLAAC said they are committed to creating a quality festival for next year, and they are looking forward to announcing some of the lineup in the coming months.
“Producing a music festival is already a tremendous undertaking — one we are familiar with — on an ordinary timeline. But we want to do more than just put on a music festival; This is KAABOO, a festival known for its quality experience, high-caliber acts, and fun atmosphere. With this additional time, we are confident that we can put together a memorable KAABOO that our guests will love,” FLAAC said.
After five years at the Fairgrounds, KAABOO organizers announced that the festival would move to Petco Park in 2020 under a new partnership with the San Diego Padres. However, this never materialized due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The festival name and brand license were transferred to FLAAC in 2021, bringing it under the leadership of industry veterans Mark Terry, Chris Racan and Carl Monzo, the latter two of whom were previously involved in producing KAABOO.
KAABOO leaders attempted to move the festival back to Del Mar in 2022, but the Padres claimed exclusive rights to hold the event at Petco Park and sued for alleged breach of contract. Festival leaders claimed the agreement was never actually finalized.
The dispute has since been settled, with the Fairgrounds given the green light to enter into a new contract with KAABOO organizers last year. The 22nd DAA’s agreement with FLAAC states that the Fairgrounds will receive $250,000 in annual revenue for the festival.
“We want FLAAC to have enough time to put on the best event possible — one that is worthy of the fond memories the people of San Diego County have of KAABOO,” said Fairgrounds CEO Carlene Moore. “We look forward to having KAABOO return home to our cherished community gathering place in September 2025.”
Past KAABOO headliners have included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Aerosmith, Jimmy Buffet, Hall & Oates, Grouplove, Pink, and Imagine Dragons.
