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Commissioners approve Celtic Festival permit with reduced deposit and safety conditions
Summary
The board approved a social-gathering permit for the Central Oregon Celtic Festival at O'Neal Arena after adding conditions: reduced deposit, minimum porta‑potty and water provisions, adherence to insurance exclusions, and compliance with Crook County Fire and Rescue.
Crook County commissioners on May 20 approved a social‑gathering permit for the Central Oregon Celtic Festival (June 13–14 at O'Neal Arena) with amended conditions that address public‑health, safety and traffic concerns.
John Aster, the county’s community development director, presented the application and staff recommendations, noting concerns over insurance carveouts, sanitary facilities and potable water. Staff recommended a professional traffic‑control plan be prepared and approved by the county, a minimum of 12 porta‑potties and a minimum of 15,600 gallons of portable water on site per day as a conservative standard; staff described the water figure as a recommendation to meet public‑health expectations.
Shelley Reed, representing the event organizers, told commissioners the festival is a nonprofit effort that plans to provide free water to anyone who cannot pay and that the group could arrange a water truck for the event. "We will give it away for sure," Reed said when asked whether free water would be available in first‑aid situations.
Organizers asked for leniency on the standard $5,000 deposit; after discussion the board agreed to reduce the deposit to $2,000 as part of the amended permit. Commissioners also asked staff to require that the permittee not perform activities excluded by their certificate of insurance and to comply with Crook County Fire and Rescue conditions. Staff indicated security requirements would be tied to attendance and that the permit would require a traffic‑control plan approved by the county road superintendent.
The board voted to approve application CC Social Gathering 2026‑01 as amended; staff will incorporate the agreed conditions into the final permit to be executed before the event.
What happens next: Staff will finalize the permit language reflecting the reduced deposit, porta‑potty minimum, water availability on request for those unable to pay or in medical need, approved traffic plan and fire/rescue conditions.
