Shambhala Music Festival officially postponed for 2020

The Shambhala Music Festival is officially postponing its 2020 festival to July 2021.

Organizers of the annual summer music festival in the BC Interior said the decision comes after BC Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that large events will “realistically” not be happening this summer.

In a release, Shambhala Music Festival founder Jimmy Bundschuh said the event will return in 2021 at the same location it has called home since 1998: the Salmo River Ranch.

“Shambhala is not only a music festival, but it’s also a yearly reunion with our family and a time to return home to ourselves,” said Bundschuh. “It’s a place where we can freely express ourselves without reservations, and to lose that this year is devastating.”

However, he added, “health and safety are what are most important.”

• See also:
  • Large public events like PNE “not likely to happen this year”: BC health officials
  • Anyone with coronavirus symptoms can now get tested in BC
  • Air Canada temporarily suspends US transborder flights

The music festival also announced that all 2020 tickets and lodging packages will be valid for 2021, 2022, or 2023.

“It has always been about the people on the dance floor, and we know once we are all reunited again, it will be a Shambhala to remember,” said Bundschuh.

This year’s festival would have been the 23rd installment of the event, held on Bundschuh’s family-run farm. The founder promised the festival will be back and better than before.

Here is the full statement:

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we must announce the 23rd Annual Shambhala Music Festival, originally scheduled for July 2020, will be postponed to July 2021. The festival will be held at the same location it has called home since 1998: the Salmo River Ranch. We are truly sorry for any inconvenience our postponement may have caused, and we give our full support and recognition to Dr. Bonnie Henry and her colleagues for the difficult decision they had to make.

Shambhala is not only a music festival, but it’s also a yearly reunion with our [family] and a time to return home to ourselves. It’s a place where we can freely express ourselves without reservations, and to lose that this year is devastating, however your safety is what is most important. It has always been about the people on the dance floor, and we know once we are all reunited again, it will be a Shambhala to remember.

At this time, our hearts and thoughts are with anyone who has been affected directly or indirectly by COVID-19, including the healthcare and essential service workers doing their best to serve their communities during these challenging times.