Vendors Await Payment After Great Outdoors Comedy Festival in Halifax
Food truck operators and other vendors who worked the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival in Halifax are still waiting for payment from organizer Trixstar Entertainment. While general admission vendors collected their own revenue, VIP area vendors relied on the festival's point-of-sale system and report being owed substantial sums, with collective debts exceeding $100,000.
Several vendors from across the Maritimes are currently awaiting payment following the East Coast stop of the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The event took place at the Garrison Grounds from August 6 to 9 and was operated by Trixstar Entertainment.
The financial strain is particularly acute for those working in the VIP areas. Unlike general admission vendors who collected their own revenue directly, VIP vendors relied on the festival’s point-of-sale system. According to contracts, these vendors were promised immediate payment following the conclusion of the event.
Jon Norman, operator of Serious Smoke Food Truck, stated that he is awaiting $18,000 for food and services provided. He noted that vendors in the VIP area are collectively owed over $100,000. Michelle Kerfoot-Bernava, owner of Mama K’s food truck, has invoiced Trixstar Entertainment $28,000 for products supplied during the Halifax festival. Aaron Peck, operating Pop Up Cinema, also has an outstanding invoice related to a special arrangement to supply popcorn to the site.
Despite receiving apology letters regarding the delays, vendors have not been given a specific date for when they will be paid. Some vendors feel "ghosted" by the organizer, noting that staff tip pools were not distributed as expected and subcontractors allegedly went unpaid. A spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Municipality clarified that the festival was not organized or facilitated by the municipality and advised vendors to address their issues directly with the organizer.
The situation has raised concerns among vendors about the future of the festival. Trixstar Entertainment has already advertised shows for the weekend of August 6-8, 2027. This has prompted questions about the ethics of selling tickets for future years while outstanding debts from the current season remain unsettled. The festival had previously included stops in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Vancouver, but its final scheduled show in Mississauga, Ontario, for September 11-13 was abruptly cancelled days before the event.