NORTHAMPTON — Saturday’s Extravaganja event at the Three County Fairgrounds appears to be a go after a long and winding path to securing the new space.
The pro-legalization marijuana fest, which was long held on the Amherst Town Common, grew too large to continue using that space, said Amherst Town officials who declined to renew the University of Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition’s event this year.
The event, which drew between 6,000 and 8,000 people last year, will take place Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Three County Fairgrounds General Manager Bruce Shallcross said a final coordination meeting took place between fairgrounds workers and coalition leaders on Monday.
The meeting addressed last minute details such as trash can placement, which gates participants will use and traffic patterns, he said.
“The more mundane stuff of an event,” Shallcross said.
Last week the coalition leaders paid the remaining upfront fees for renting the fairgrounds, thus closing a several-month process, Shallcross said.
“It began with them not being allowed into the (Amherst) common, looking for an alternative space, and then approaching the city (Northampton) and us to move it over here,” he said.
Shallcross said while the coalition is ultimately responsible for the event, there have been meetings with city police and fire departments to smooth any foreseeable hitches.
There will be parking on either side of the fairgrounds, he said. Police will direct traffic from the street, then UMass event staff will collect a parking fee, and fairgrounds personnel will direct parking.
Shallcross said the Three County Fairgrounds can house about 3,000 cars and he does not expect the parking to max out.
“It’s as good a space as any, I think, for any event,” Shallcross said. “There are fences, it’s secure, and has wide open spaces across about 50 acres.”
Sarah Crosby can be reached at scrosby@gazettenet.com.