The future of the popular Great Outdoors Comedy Festival is in question after some information was released by the organizers today about a bankruptcy assignment.
Trixstar, an event management group, posted an update on its website about the popular Canadian festival. According to the Trixstar announcement, MNP Ltd. has been appointed as the Licensed Insolvency Trustee of the bankruptcy estate.
The assignment is still subject to affirmation by the Company’s creditors at the first meeting of creditors, according to Trixstar.
The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival takes place in Vancouver, Mississauga, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, Calgary, and one U.S. city, Spokane, Washington.
Tickets for the 2027 event have already been sold, which has prompted a flurry of comments on the Instagram post about refunds.
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“I wanted you to hear this from me. Trixstar faced significant financial challenges, and despite our efforts to address them, we were unable to establish a financially sustainable path forward. Ultimately, this made it impossible for Trixstar to continue operating,” said Mike Anderson, Trixstar’s founder and president, in a statement.
Trixstar has been in operation for over 20 years, and it says it has been “bringing entertainment experiences to communities across Canada and the United States.”
In addition, Trixstar says that any questions about outstanding payments or claims should be directed to MNP.
“This includes inquiries regarding tickets for the previously scheduled Edmonton show on July 18, 2026, the previously scheduled Mississauga festival, and the 2027 festivals,” Trixstar’s statement adds.
The statement mentions that there has been no determination regarding the overall future of the festival.
“We are hopeful that, through this process, there may be an opportunity for the festival to find a new home and continue in some form,” Anderson says.
There has been quite a bit of frustration in the comments in response. However, there was also a lot of gratitude for the shows.
One person said, “No surprises here… so what about our refunds?”
“Understandable for people to be angry about refunds and unpaid bills, but I personally will miss GOCF,” reads another comment.
Some previous shows, like when Kevin Hart performed in Vancouver, led to complaints from fans. Some complaints were about the prices of beverages; others were frustrated about the length of time the comedian was on stage.
Other comedians who have headlined the show include Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Burr, and John Mulaney.
We’ve reached out to MNP Ltd. for more information about refunds and will update this story when we hear back.