This year's Vancouver Folk Music Festival has officially been cancelled

Vancouver Folk Festival

The Vancouver Folk Music Festival has officially been cancelled for 2020.

In a statement, organizers of the annual weekend festival, which takes place every July at Jericho Park, said the decision to cancel this year’s event was made “with heavy hearts,” but that “this is the responsible decision for everyone’s health.”

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

For those who have already purchased tickets to this year’s festival, organizers said they will receive an email from the festival letting them know their options moving forward.

Organizers couldn’t say if acts that were booked to perform this year will return next year.

“We don’t know what next year will hold, as the music world is dealing with unprecedented turmoil from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” they said in a statement. “At this time, artists are rescheduling tours into next summer, and may or may not be available to us.”

And with “venues, labels, tour support, and tour funding all in flux, it is not possible to confirm who will be willing to tour and who we will be able to book again at this time.”

That being said, “we certainly hope to bring many of the great acts we had booked for 2021, and to share some of their music with you virtually this July.”

This would have been the festival’s 43rd year.

Here is the full statement from festival organizers:

It is with heavy hearts that we announce that we are cancelling this year’s Vancouver Folk Music Festival, scheduled to take place July 17-18-19, 2020, in response to COVID-19.

We’ve been monitoring the quickly evolving COVID-19 crisis, and it became very clear to us that the best course of action was cancellation. Dr. Bonnie Henry’s announcement this past weekend that large public gatherings aren’t feasible for this summer did not come as a surprise. The safety of our community, staff, contractors, artists, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, suppliers, patrons and festival supporters is of utmost importance. We know this is the responsible decision for everyone’s health.

We take comfort in the thoughts of being back at the beach with all of you in 2021. At this time, the 43rd annual VFMF has been rescheduled to July 16-17-18, 2021. If you are a ticket-buyer, please do not call our office – we will be in touch with you directly via email regarding ticketing options. Donating the ticket cost, rollover to 2021 or refunds are available options – again, we will communicate these in full detail with ticket-buyers in the near future. For the time being, we ask for your patience as it may take some time to respond to any questions or requests received. Please see below for a contact list for non-ticket related inquiries.

We know these are uncertain, unsettling and challenging times. Our hearts are with you all – and we are grateful to those who are staying home to “flatten the curve”, and especially thankful to healthcare and essential service workers for their brave contributions to our community.

Even though we can’t be together this summer, we can still be connected through the power of music. We hope that in this time of social distancing, you’ll find ways to “keep the music playing” – dance in your living room, sing in the shower, follow your favourite musicians, discover new creative initiatives, make music. And, find ways to virtually connect with your festival family and friends until we can safely be reunited.

Thank you to all of our patrons, artists, volunteers, donors, sponsors, vendors, suppliers, and the community at large. You are the folk, this is your Festival. We will get through this together.

Stay safe, healthy and continue to be kind to one another.

The Staff and Board of Vancouver Folk Music Festival