07/11/2026
While the Lynn Music Foundation is proud to have hosted the Lynn Music Festival at Red Rock Park for the last 3 years, it is sad to see that Diversity Matters Festival has to cancel for a 2nd year in a row due to what we believe is an issue that can be easily resolved with assurances and conversations so that the community benefits the most. We support North Shore Juneteenth Association Inc. in asking for more clarity on the permitting process so we are able to adjust to problems addressed in a meaningful way and continue to provide events geared towards bringing our community together.
An Update on the Diversity Matters Festival
It is with great disappointment that I share that the 2026 Diversity Matters Festival has been canceled after the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) declined to issue our permit for Red Rock Park.
This has been an incredibly difficult decision because we worked hard to address every concern that was raised throughout the permitting process. We adjusted our plans, reduced our footprint, revised attendance estimates, and made changes in an effort to comply with the requirements we were given.
Despite those efforts, we were still unable to obtain approval.
What has been most frustrating is not simply that our permit was denied, but that the process appears to be inconsistent. Over the years, our festival has repeatedly been told that concerns such as attendance, parking, and potential damage to the grass prevent our event from moving forward. Yet we have watched other events with larger crowds, larger footprints, road closures, and significant infrastructure receive permits for the same public space.
To be clear, I am not criticizing those events. I am glad they are happening, and I believe they should continue. My question is simple:
Why are the standards different?
Public parks belong to all of us. Organizations should understand the criteria they must meet, and those criteria should be applied consistently and transparently, regardless of who is organizing the event.
I have asked DCR for a clear explanation of:
• The criteria used to evaluate permit applications.
• How those criteria were applied to the Diversity Matters Festival.
• Why accommodations appeared to be available for other events but not ours.
As of today, I have not received a response.
This experience has shown me that the permitting process needs greater transparency and consistency. I believe community organizations deserve clear expectations and equal treatment when seeking to use our public spaces.
If you believe public parks should be accessible through a fair and consistent permitting process, I encourage you to respectfully contact our state representatives and ask them to work with DCR to establish clear, transparent, and equitable standards for all community events.
While this year's festival will not take place, our mission has not changed. We remain committed to celebrating diversity, building community, and creating spaces where everyone feels welcome.
Thank you to everyone who planned, and supported this year's festival. Your encouragement means more than you know, and we will continue working toward bringing this event back stronger in 2027.
