Organizers of the Stan Rogers Folk Festival announced today that, like many other music festival across Atlantic Canada, they would be cancelling their 2020 festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival was scheduled for July 23-26, 2020 in Canso, Nova Scotia.
“We have been constantly monitoring data and hoping for clarity on how long isolation measures will be in effect. It is now apparent that restrictions on gatherings will persist throughout the spring and summer, and possibly into the fall. There is no way we will go from home-based isolation to large events with thousands gathered. It’s looking more and more like large events like ours won’t be able to proceed until a vaccine is in place,” says Stanfest founder and producer, Troy Greencorn.
The festival is following the lead of many festivals in the region, including the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the Halifax Jazz Festival, Antigonish Highland Games, Larlee Creek Hullaballoo (NB), Festival of Small Halls (PE), and Indian River Festival (PE), but Stanfest organizers says that they believe that federal and provincial authorities should mandate that all large summer events cancel.
“It just isn’t practical to plan for gatherings of thousands of festival goers at this time. Summer events are being canceled clear across Canada. It would be much easier for us all if public health officials would mandate this action. Our situation is compounded by the camping nature of the festival. We have several thousand attendees who live on-site in campgrounds for the weekend. It will be impossible to meet the public expectation for disinfection and hygiene. Canso is a community of under 1,000 residents and we feel we’d be taking unreasonable risk to invite thousands of visitors into the community, even if the event was permitted to proceed. There are just too many risks and too much uncertainty,” states Greencorn.
Aside from look at possibilities for the 2021 iteration of the festival, Greencorn says they’re also looking at how the festival might be presented in an online format.
“We have been amazed at the way the world has turned to online music at an unprecedented level for comfort and entertainment during this period of self-isolation. When we come through this – and we will – it seems certain that audiences will have grown and be eager to experience live music again. We are exploring ways that Stanfest can join the movement and bring our audience and community together virtually until we can gather again in person. Stay tuned,” adds Greencorn.
Festival organizers also note that ticket holders for the 2020 festival can visit www.stanfest.com for information on refunds, exchanges and donations.