Sedgwick County nixes music festival at Lake Afton, citing public safety, vulgar artist

A music festival that bills itself as “the biggest lake party in Kansas” will not return to Lake Afton this July.

The Sedgwick County Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to deny Dam Jam organizers access to the park, citing public safety concerns and moral objections to one musical act’s vulgar lyrics.

The festival, scheduled for July 19-20, was expected to draw as many as 9,000 attendees. Last year’s event at Lake Afton netted the county $27,315 in revenue.

“I’m not saying that we can’t handle the event, because we can,” Sheriff Jeff Easter told commissioners. “But when you mix alcohol and everything else society seems to take these days in an event that could draw 9,000 people, we could have issues responding and maintaining the safety out there.”

A representative for festival promoters A Production Company, LLC, said they are currently evaluating their options and that the event has not been canceled at this time. They did not respond directly to questions about a possible venue change and refunds for ticket-buyers.

Commissioner David Dennis was sharply critical of promoters for including Wheeler Walker Jr., a country artist known for overtly sexual and expletive-laden lyrics, among the festival’s 14 musical acts.

“The entertainment should be suitable for families,” Dennis said.

CJ Wilson, president of A Production Company, told commissioners her company had already spent “quite a bit” of money to secure the musical acts.

“When we are choosing our acts for our entertainment, we choose to work with agencies across the nation,” Wilson said. “We don’t particularly choose acts that are our favorites but we do definitely look into them and enjoy them. [Wheeler Walker Jr.] is one that has a high ticket rating for the Midwest. People are excited to see him.”

Commissioner Jim Howell said he doesn’t want to be in the business of censorship. But because Dam Jam isn’t billed as an adults-only event, he had “a moral objection to seeing children put in this position.”

“I did a quick search for their lyrics, and I’m telling you, they’re X-rated. I couldn’t read them in front of you today,” Howell said.

The proposed contract with A Production Company that commissioners voted down Wednesday included a provision that would have allowed the county to reject specific musical acts commissioners deemed objectionable.

The Dam Jam 2024 lineup includes a number of other popular artists, including Brantley Gilbert, Stone Temple Pilots, JoDee Messina, Ryan Upchurch and Demun Jones. The cost for a weekend pass ranges between $150 and $4,000.

Public safety

Sheriff Easter said last year’s Dam Jam event drew between 500 and 600 attendees each night. Around 15 sheriff’s deputies were contracted and paid by organizers to provide security.

“We had only two issues that happened, and they were very minor. Both were alcohol-related, drinking too much alcohol,” Easter said.

But he said things got out of hand in 2022 when Dam Jam was held at El Dorado Lake.

“They had a lot of issues. That’s why they’ve quit allowing those folks to come out there,” he said. “In fact, they hired off-duty deputies and officers from all around this area to work it, and the fights and the issues they had rose to the level where they’re not allowing it anymore.”

He said to ensure public safety, it would take at least 20 off-duty deputies working security at the event.

“I’m not sure we could hire that many, but if we could and we still have a major event take place out there, it would cause all of our on-duty deputies to respond out there, and it’s a long way out there,” Easter said. “Then I’d have to backfill those positions with overtime, because we still have to answer calls.”

County Counselor Justin Waggoner noted that revenue generated by the music festival would go to the general fund, the same source sheriff’s office compensation is paid out of.

Chair Ryan Baty said ultimately, public safety is the top priority.

“I want to be an advocate for events. I want to be an advocate for festivals,” Baty said. “I think it’s important for the community, but on one side of the coin, I want to make sure . . . it’s not a strain on the remainder of the county because of depleting resources.”