The town of Larkspur and the Colorado Renaissance Festival have put down their swords after years of battle, striking a deal that will keep the town’s primary economic engine from moving for up to 10 years.
As part of the deal, the festival, which draws about 200,000 visitors to the community over eight weekends each summer, will get to hold up to three music festivals a year.
“It will be big-name acts,” said T.R. Rice, the festival’s attorney. “I wouldn’t want to say Widespread Panic, but we’re talking bands of that ilk.”
Before the agreement, reached unanimously in a special Town Council meeting Sunday night, the festival had threatened to leave after years of accusations by previous town leaders that culminated in a lawsuit over water and sewer charges.
For the town of 273 people, keeping the festival is a new lease on life. The festival accounts for 70 percent of the town’s $1 million tax base.
“I’m very excited about this,” said Mayor Sherilyn West, who began working to assuage past differences with the festival when she was elected in April.
“I think we came to very agreeable terms, and I look forward to the festival being part of our community for many years to come.”
The deal includes the festival paying the $95,700 the town was awarded from the lawsuit earlier this year. In return, the town will provide the water and sewer taps the festival needs to meet peak demand, with an option of adding more restrooms in the future.
Also, the festival will add an extra weekend this year, Aug. 5 and 6, beyond the scheduled June 30 finale, to make up for a rainout two weekends ago.
In return, the festival pledges to remain in Larkspur at least four more years with an option of six more.
Jim Paradise Jr., the festival’s marketing manager and son of the event’s founder, said the agreement and new working relationship bode well for the entire community.
The music festivals will generate more revenue for the town, while the Renaissance Festival can deepen its roots in the community, Paradise said.
“We’ve been here 30 years,” Paradise said.
“To be able to now focus on the future and making the festival bigger and better, instead of figuring out where we’re going to be next, is just great.”
Staff writer Joey Bunch can be reached at 303-820-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com.
