Santa Clarita officials are working out plans for the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival 2015, amid reports the popular annual event might be changing venues.
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“Details for the (Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival 2015) are currently being finalized,” said Christina McGoldrick, communications specialist for the city of Santa Clarita. “We are currently unable to confirm specifics at this time.”
City officials and members of the Friends of Hart Park confirmed a discussion of the event having to move from Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio, due to a previously agreed-upon arrangement the famous movie facility has made.
Downtown Newhall and Hart Park, which in the past have hosted events leading up to the popular celebration of the city’s heritage, have been discussed as a possible site if Melody Ranch is unavailable.
The event draws thousands of people every year to Santa Clarita. Last year was the 21st annual version of the event.
Related: Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival Rides Into Melody Ranch After ’94 Quake
Nothing has been finalized, according to city officials, who are expecting an announcement in the next week or so.
“It’s something that they’re looking at, and it’s very exciting,” said Santa Clarita City Councilman TimBen Boydston, adding he’s heard the discussion, but there’s been no official announcement.
Several calls to Hart Park Superintendent Norm Phillips seeking comment were not returned.
Andre Veluzat, an owner of Melody Ranch, confirmed the studio is “kind of on hold with Warner Bros.,” regarding a pilot scheduled for filming at the famous movie ranch facility.
Related: Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival 2014 at Melody Ranch Wraps ‘Til 2015
It’s not 100 percent whether the facility would be available, although the family is working with the city, as it has in the past, he said.
Andre’s wife, Candy Veluzat, is on the Friends of Hart Park committee, but was unable to be reached Tuesday.
The Melody Ranch studio has hosted countless shoots from hundreds of Western TV shows and movies, which is why it has been an ideal location in the past. It has been the host for past iterations of the Cowboy Festival, which have changed over the years.
Heritage Junction, near Hart Park and downtown Newhall could make an ideal spot, Boydston said, because of its historical significance.
“I think (Hart Park and Heritage Junction) would be a great opportunity,” he said.
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So many people come just to see Melodey Ranch and the Entertainment of course.I am afraid we will loose people but there are a lot of minds to put together to figure it out. If it was up to me it would never move.
THE MELODY RANCH JUST MAKES THE RIGHT SETTING FOR THE FESTIVAL. DONT KNOW IF I WILL ATTEND AS YET IF THEY MOVE THE VENUE