SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Officials are warning about Sky Lantern Festival promoters selling tickets to an event in the Sacramento region that may never happen.
The Sky Lantern Festival is being hosted by The Lights Fest and is described as "uplifting, positive and unforgettable experience" by the company. For Danielle Comb, the offer was enticing.
"It popped up on my Facebook is one of those, something you might be interested in," said Comb, who bought tickets for the Oct. 21 event.
The Santa Rosa mother bought tickets totaling $150 in a few months ago for the Oct. 21 event in the Sacramento area. The lanterns are made up of paper bags with open flame lift into the air.
Since buying those tickets, it has been one set back followed by another. The event was originally scheduled at the Sacramento Raceway and was canceled. It was eventually moved to Colusa. Now, the event has been postponed after organizers on social media said they have to get more approvals and it could take two more weeks.
Comb isn't convinced she will see her refund, something other ticket holders are worried about as well.
The Better Business Bureau tells ABC10 they have received many complaints from around the country regarding Viive Events LLC, the company putting on the local lights festival. The BBB have given them an ‘F’ rating.
"They post tickets online, take your money and have not responded to complaints about not issuing refunds," said Celia Surridge, Marketing and Communications manager at the Sacramento Better Business Bureau. "This has been a known problem for quite some time."
Sacramento Metro Fire Captain Parker Wilbourn says the California State Fire Marshal has made it clear that lanterns are not going to be permitted.
Wilbourn says the Viive Events LLC ghosted them when the department reached out about the planned Sacramento Raceway event. He calls lanterns festival in California dangerous and illegal.
"Anything related to a lantern that potentially could go up in the air that is on fire could start a devastating wildfire,” said Wilbourn. “We are just not going to take that risk for our community."
The BBB and Comb calling the local event a scam.
"If you see it pop up on Facebook, really do your research before you jump in and do it,” said Comb. “I tell my mom that every single day and I am so mad that I fell for it myself."
ABC10 reached out to Viive Events LLC but have not heard back.
Metro fire says they will have personnel on standby Saturday at the Sacramento Raceway if anyone shows up to light a lantern.
The BBB recommends people should try to call or email the organizers about any event and if you cannot get in touch within two days that is a major red flag.
