Music festival in Detroit Lakes is on hiatus

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (WDAY TV) - A popular music event in lakes country is on hiatus. The 10-thousand Lakes Festival, known for its music to fans, but drugs and arrests to police, has been cancelled. Some in the community are worried businesses will take a hit.

The 10-thousand Lakes Festival has been around for 7-years. It brings thousands of fans to Soo Pass Ranch every summer.

We look at it, we develop a plan, we deal with it, it comes and it goes and we go on."

The event kept the sheriff's department busy. Last summer, there were 26 arrests, 12 were drug related. Sheriff Gordon says any excitement he may have for cancelling 10 K-L-F, has more to do with scheduling his employees, not the arrests and trouble sometimes associated with the event.

“We get a little breather, unless something else happens and that's the thing about Becker County in the summertime, nobody anticipates a lot of time off and no vacations for the most part."

People from Detroit Lakes Chamber of Commerce say even though summertime keeps the area busy, businesses will feel the effect of losing the festival.

“I think some more than others. I don't think across the board, but 12,000 people is 12,000 people that is going to have a positive impact on money coming into the economy."

It caused some long police hours but, Gordon says the crowds at the event were always easy going and simple to control, but he hopes the weekend off for his team doesn't mean an off week for the town's businesses. In a statement, organizers say the event was not earning enough money to be successful.

Tags: your city, todd kurtz, detroit lakes, 10klf, entertainment, music