Woodstock 50, the landmark celebration of the legendary 1969 festival in upstate New York, was scheduled to kick off less than a month from today on Aug. 16, but the plans for the ambitious anniversary took yet another hit today when the town of Vernon, NY, which holds Woodstock 50’s proposed location of Vernon Downs (after the festival lost out on its initial planned venue in Watkins Glen), denied the organizers’ permit (again).

In a meeting on Tuesday evening, representatives for Woodstock 50 and Vernon Downs owner Jeffrey Gural attempted to convince Vernon residents of the benefits of the festival, despite law enforcement and citizens concerns over the logistical issues that would arise from confirming such a large-scale event so close to the date it is set to take place.

As the Poughkeepsie Journal reports, while the Vernon Downs location is now in the rearview for Woodstock 50 organizers, the statement released today does not officially admit defeat, omitting a final cancellation of the festival. One of Woodstock 50’s production partners, Virgin Produced, has parted ways with the festival after the permit denial.

“Woodstock 50 is disappointed that the Town of Vernon has passed up the opportunity to hold the historic 50th anniversary festival by denying our robust and thoughtful proposal,” Woodstock 50’s statement reads. “We regret that those in Vernon who supported Woodstock have been deprived of the once-in-a-lifetime chance to be part of the rebirth of a cultural peace movement that changed the world in 1969 and is what the world needs now. We want to thank the artists who stood by us. We are grateful for the support of Vernon Downs and its generous owner Jeffrey Gural.”

Michael Lang, one of the original Woodstock’s organizers and one of the faces of Woodstock 50’s beleaguered efforts, said after the Vernon meeting, “We need to regroup and figure it out… “I’m disappointed. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy and I knew that the town supervisor, frankly, was really behind this position. We just hoped there was a sense of fairness that these people would be adhering to and it doesn’t seem to be the case.”

Stay tuned for more information on any official cancellation or possible further efforts from Woodstock 50 organizers to salvage (or reschedule) the anniversary festival celebration.