The organizer of the Festival of Lights was turned down for a permit at the October 6, Bisbee City council meeting after the council and city staff learned he did not have insurance for the event despite providing what appeared to be a valid certificate of liability of insurance.
Roman Garcia, the applicant for the event under the Rainbow Alliance of Southeastern AZ (dba Bisbee Pride, Inc.) had requested a Park, Facility, and Right-of-Way Use Permit for the use of lower Vista Park for the 36th Annual Festival of Lights in November but was denied the permit after the council learned the insurance document attached to the permit request was not valid despite it having policy effective dates for December 7, 2025, to December 7, 2026.
After a bit of discussion about tabling the item to see if Garcia would provide updated documents, City Manager Ashlee Coronado said if that were to be the case she would like to see actual evidence of insurance since learning the document submitted was not valid.