WonderBus Festival organizers reveal financial difficulties with 2024 event

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Organizers of the Wonder festivals have made an announcement on social media about the status of this year's event.

The online post, a simple graphic with text, begins by assuring fans that Wonder festivals will continue, despite no updates about 2024's event since September. But the statement from the Wonder Festivals Team goes on to explain that finances have become an issue in moving plans forward.

"We've been staging our music festivals for many years," the text read. "It costs a lot of money to run these events and the second half of last year was really tough. As the '23 festival season ended, a few of us were left to cover all the costs. This was different from how things began and continues to be both deeply disappointing and unsustainable."

In its plan to move forward, the team noted that it is "reviewing opportunities with new partners-partners who will allow us to become better and stronger." Fans were asked to stay patient and continue to check for updated information.

"The Wonder fests may take place later than usual, but there are no plans to give up what we started," the message concluded. "Thank you for your continued interest and support."

Previously, the group presented the WonderBus Music & Arts Festival in central Ohio on Aug. 25-27, 2023. The multi-day concert was held on The Lawn at CAS near Olentangy River Road just east of Ohio State’s campus. 

The show was headlined by Pitbull, Demi Lovato and Caamp and included dozens of other performers.

The cost of general admission for the three-day festival was set at $310, single-day admission was $142 and students were offered a discounted rate of $106. Tickets went on sale on March 13, 2023, for the late-summer event.

There was also a fundraising element to the festival, which benefited "innovation in mental health treatment and research at OSU Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital."

Additionally, another event set to take place on The Lawn at CAS, the inaugural Flavortown Festival spearheaded by celebrity chef Guy Fieri, was canceled earlier this month due to “unforeseen circumstances.”