Event Industry News

‘Credit Munch’ Hits Wizard Of Oz festival: US

It is the end of the yellow brick road for an annual Wizard of Oz festival – after it became the latest victim of the credit crunch.

The US event, where fans could meet the actors who played the Munchkins in the film classic, has been cancelled after running for 27 years.

The decision came after a disappointing turnout at September’s festival in Indiana.

Poor weather conditions were also blamed for the decline – as well as the “advancing age” of its star attractions.

At its peak, the festival attracted 75,000 Oz fans from across the US and beyond.

But Brenda Maynard, president of the Indiana Wizard of Oz Festival, said the time has come to “retire the festival”.

She blamed the low turnout on heavy rains and flooding.

And added: “When you add to that the tough economy everyone is up against right now, as well as the advancing age of our Munchkin guests, who are one of the primary reasons this festival is so beloved, we had to make a decision that it’s time to retire the festival.”

At this year’s festival, only three Munchkins from the 1939 film were still alive and well enough to attend.