Festival International is just over a week away and already there’s a bit of confusion.  There are questions about how vendors get their permits and if those permits are being handed out fairly.

The Executive Director Scott Feehan says it was time that all permitting agencies get on the same page when it comes to who gets a permit and for what.

Feehan says the festival needs to be in the know and he can’t wait until the festival is in full swing to try to figure it out.  “We’re just kind of cross referencing. The agencies are coming at us to make sure that this fits the overall footprint.  If it does, we will permit it. So, when in the middle of the festival when things come up there’s one central resource. They can call us and say did they go through the process,” says Feehan.

Feehan says vendors still have to go through the proper channels but those channels now lead back to the festival.  He says he has run across fake permits to vendors selling faulty goods.  

Feehan explains the festival and the permitting agencies have to work together to keep the festival a success. “If a person ended up selling counterfeit cheap sunglasses like they buy them for 50 cents from China and try to sell them for $20 on the streets. People come to the festival and say I just spent 20 bucks on these sunglasses and I want my money back. It’s not us,” Feehan.

“Anytime we can get government ouf of somebody’s hair.  It’s always think a good idea,” adds Mayor-President Joel Robideaux.

“Basically, we all had a meeting and said alright let’s all to get on the same page and know what everybody is doing,” says Feehan.

Feehan anticipates over 200 vendors, about the same as last year.