Firefly Music Festival's 2019 date a mystery after Bonnaroo takes Father's Day weekend

It's been quiet since Firefly Music Festival ended earlier this month. Real quiet.

Two weeks after Firefly rocked The Woodlands, organizers have still not revealed dates for 2019, breaking from tradition. 

While there's a message on the festival's homepage that reads, "See you next year," Firefly has not issued a press release announcing its return to The Woodlands nor has the festival addressed its future plans on Facebook.

In a statement to The News Journal, Red Frog Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Mezzano said, "We can't wait to return to The Woodlands next year. Dates will be announced soon."

For the past five years, a Firefly announcement with the dates for the following year has come within days of the festival's end. (After its first year, organizers immediately announced the festival would return, but waited a month to disclose the dates.)

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Firefly has landed on Father's Day weekend for the past four years, but that streak is likely over.

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival announced earlier this month it was moving to Father's Day weekend, June 13-16, 2019, to avoid conflict with Nashville's CMA Music Festival.

It's unlikely Firefly would be held on the same weekend as one of its biggest competitors because they share some of the same fans, acts, vendors and more.

Firefly could host its eighth edition in The Woodlands on June 20-23, 2019. That date would follow what Firefly did in its second and third year when it was held the weekend following Father's Day. But until they announce, no one really knows for sure.

The wait for Firefly's future is leaving plenty of Delaware event planners in a holding pattern.

If you have an annual event with an audience that overlaps with Firefly, like a music or beer festival, you certainly don't want Dover's 800-pound gorilla squashing you on the same weekend.

Laura Stimson, senior account manager and events coordinator for Wilmington's Strongpoint Marketing, says she will hold off on booking 2019 dates for events such as Smyrna at Night as long as possible.

"You have to book around Firefly. And it's not just because of the fans, but also vendors, distribution companies and all the others who are tied up that weekend," Stimson said. "It makes it real hard to pull the resources that you need. Even things as simple as getting large quantities of ice that weekend would be tough."

Smyrna at Night, an outdoor street festival with more than 25 musical acts, will be held Friday and Stimson would like to announce next year's date to their captive audience.

But without a Firefly date, that's on hold. Now, it's just a matter of how long they will have to wait.

"If we get to August, we'll have to get two strong dates in mind and wait as long as we can. But we promote Smyrna at Night and our other events year-round, so if you know anybody at Red Frog..." Stimson says with a laugh. 

The lack of 2019 dates has not been lost on the Firefly faithful. The festival's 15,000-person Facebook fan page has been buzzing about the mystery.

When The News Journal asked fans on the page what weekend they want in 2019, most suggested the weekend after Father's Day, June 20-23.

The weekend seems especially popular with Delaware teachers, who typically begin their summer vacation the week after Father's Day.

Others had more imaginative ideas:

"Mother's Day weekend," Maryland's James Martin joked.

"How about it always straddling 4th of July? I pledge allegiance to the 'Fly," wrote New York's Melissa Werger Rosen.

And Wilmington's John Mabrey ran with the Independence Day idea, satirically writing that weekend would allow "everyone to wear red, white and blue and have to STAND the entire time."

Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).

FIREFLY WEEKENDS THROUGH THE YEARS

2012: July 20-22

2013: June 21-23

2014: June 19-22

2015: June 18-21

2016: June 16-19

2017: June 15-18

2018: June 14-17

2019: ?