Thousands partake in historic light up at Santa Rosa cannabis festival

The Hall of Flowers Cannabis Market & Festival at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds was the scene of a historic moment in marijuana culture Saturday, as 7,000 participants set a world record for the most joints lit at once, according to organizers.

Hosted by rolling paper brand OCB, the massive smoke out started precisely at 4:20 p.m., cannabis culture’s favorite meeting time.

“Hall of Flowers is an annual event that brings thousands of true aficionados together to appreciate all aspects of the plant,” said OCB marketing director Andrew Osterman in a Sunday news release. “This record attempt was our way of celebrating the ritual and enjoyment of a perfect roll.”

OCB also took the weekend opportunity to unveil its new collaboration with actor Seth Rogen’s Houseplant line of smoking accessories and home goods.

As participants gathered for the smoke session, aerial drones hovered above the crowd, capturing the sheer scale of the feat.

“Hall of Flowers has always been about celebrating the best of our community, and today we took that celebration to the next level,” said Hall of Flowers cofounder Rama Mayo in the release. “The energy was electric, the vibe was unparalleled, and it was amazing to see everyone come together to set this record.”

This year marked the first time the industry event opened its doors to the general public, hosting Saturday’s festival after Friday’s business-to-business trade show that regularly draws 3,500 cannabis industry professionals.

The public day, which included vendors, celebrity chef demos and an appearance by rapper Wiz Khalifa, drew 13,000 attendees, according to the release.

The event, named after the fairground’s building, has been held annually, except in 2020, since 2018. d