Putting an emphasis on tight fiscal policy in the face of worsening economic conditions, Riviera Beach has decided to cancel the Riviera Beach Music Festival.

After providing funding for the festival during its last eight years, city councillors have decided that it was not willing to commit $75,000 that it had initially allocated to the festival's advisory committee as part of the municipal budget. The festival was seen as a financial risk in light of a changing venue and rough weather that has led to a net loss from every edition since the festival began.

After eight years, city taxpayers have lost almost $1.5 million to the production of the festival, but things turned downhill to a a noticeable extent only within the last three. In 2006, the city gave more than $750,000 and the program was hit with delay and storms, causing headliner Patti LaBelle to finish her set early. The year after, fierce winds actually blew the stage down, with the city's issuance of refunds adding even more pain to city coffers.  Read more »