UPDATE: Refunds rolling out for Taco Fest flop

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) - UPDATE: Those who attended what was supposed to be a Taco and Margarita Festival earlier this summer can expect refunds to hit their bank accounts very soon, if not already.

Matt Becker, owner of Wicked Good Time, was contracted by the event organizer, Adam Dobres, to staff the May 1 event. Becker’s team has been working on refunds since Dobres’ festival went south shortly after it began.

Becker tells Valley News Live a mass email went out to those who attended the event with instructions on how to ask for refunds. Becker says there was a large response and his team is now in the verification stage to make sure customers aren’t missed or refunded twice. He says the approved refunds will hit event-goers’ bank accounts automatically.

The North Dakota Attorney General’s Office previously told Valley News Live its office was investigating a claim related to the festival. A spokeswoman says the AG’s office ‘received complaints from two individuals, which were mediated and the individuals should receive refunds by the end of the week.’

ORIGINAL 5/2

In a phone interview with Valley News Live on May 3, the festival’s main leader, Adam Dobres of Kick’n Dirt Entertainment stated he apologized for the event not going as planned.

“I take full responsibility for not having enough food vendors,” Dobres said.

Other organizers say the ticket money is still pending, but assure customers wanting a refund will receive communication about how to get their money back within a few weeks.

Pictures shared with Valley News Live showed people waiting in long lines to get food and drinks. One woman we spoke to said when she arrived in the late afternoon, she waited in line for about an hour only to walk away with nothing.

Other attendees said the only two food trucks at the event ran out of food.

“Overall I think it was really like poor planning. It was hyped up for weeks and it was going to be like this big fun start to the summer. A lot of people were going to go. It was like a bust,” said Stephanie Lipson, an attendee of the festival.

Matt Becker, owner of Wicked Good Time, was contracted by the event organizer Adam Dobres to staff the event.

Becker vented on social media expressing his disappointment and embarrassment for the event calling it “a nightmare.” Becker said once people started to complain he referred them to Dobres.

Eventually, Becker said he just started refunding some people at the event.

Lipson said she messaged the organizer on Facebook for a refund, but as of Sunday she hadn’t received a response.

According to the North Dakota Horse Park, they were not associated with the event other than providing the venue.