The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival.
Image Credit: Roots and Blues Festival
April 21, 2020 - 9:09 AM
Summertime event planners had high hopes that COVID-19 precautions would lift before their shows were expected to go on but that's just not the case. Now the Salmon Arm's Roots and Blues Festival is one of the first to announce it will fold for 2020.
"It is with a heavy heart that today the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society will be announcing that the 2020 edition of the Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival will not proceed in the traditional format," read a statement from event organizers posted on the Facebook page.
"While we had remained hopeful that the healing powers of music and community would have the opportunity to prevail, for the safety of everyone involved, and in accordance with provincial directives, we will not be able to proceed with the 2020 Festival as planned. It can not be overstated just how much every festival goer, joining us from near and far, means to all of us as organizers, volunteers, and to the entire Shuswap community. The sincere enthusiasm and loyalty of our festival-goers is the backbone of the ROOTSandBLUES Festival and because of that genuine pride and passion, we will return to our traditional Festival format in 2021."
ROOTSandBLUES is offering ticket holders a complete refund for all 2020 ticket purchases, a partial refund and donation of the remainder to support future ROOTSandBLUES Festivals or the opportunity to donate your ticket purchase to the Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival, in support of future year's Festivals (tax receipts will be provided).
ROOTSandBLUES will also be providing full refunds for all camping bookings.
Yesterday, April 20, during the daily press briefing, Dr. Henry reiterated the message that large summer events would likely not go on.
“We will not be having those big events where people gather together this summer. That is a much riskier prospect than ever before,” Dr. Henry said.
“We'll see in B.C. and globally, those types of events, large parades, large mass gathering where we all come together, those will not be happening this summer.”
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