Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area - Festivals & Community Events (U.S. National Park Service)

Introduction:

A festival brings people together for a community celebration. A festival held in a National Park Service site also brings the community closer to the values for which the park was created and is preserved. It can be operated as a community event or charity fund-raising activity. There must be a meaningful association between the park and the event, with the event contributing to visitor understanding of the significance of the park.

Elements Defining a Festival Permit:

A festival is an event open to the public that has a central theme or goal related to park values.

The event includes a mixture of entertainment, food, activities, and vendor or information booths.

Although a festival may be sponsored by a non-profit organization, there are commercial elements to the event such as entrance fee, participation (vendor booth) fees, sale of food and beverages, or sale of festival-related items. Events which are held strictly for profit or do not relate to National Park Service values and purposes are not appropriate in NPS sites.