Festivals are disappearing at an alarming rate. Why is this happening?

Agata Popęda here. Festivals across the U.S. already started to disappear in 2024. This year seems to be continuing that trend. Who is to blame?

The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, which measures how optimistic consumers are about the economy, stood at 52.2 in May 2025, according to a revised number released Friday, May 30, marking a 25-percent drop from a year ago and close to the record low of 50 in June 2022. People have possible inflation in mind and are careful with their money. When one cuts spending, entertainment goes first. 

President Donald Trump might keep repeating we live in the best economy ever and criticize the Federal Reserve for not lowering interest rates, but Chair Jerome Powell knows what he is doing. 

It’s not all about prices. The entertainment industry seems to be going through a change that affects tourism-oriented Monterey County. To learn what local events are disappearing and why, read an article by my colleague Pam Marino, who describes the phenomenon in the current issue of the Weekly—in print and online. (Just after her story went to print, she also learned that a blues festival scheduled for Father’s Day was canceled due to low ticket sales.) 

The trend is not limited to U.S. festivals. Music festivals are especially disappearing around the world, such as the Sideways Festival in Helsinki and more than 60 festivals in the United Kingdom alone in 2024.

Ever since Covid, festival costs continue to rise, from artist pay to food, equipment and insurance. For Monterey County, which holds many big festivals each year, this is bad news.

Party while you can.