Kingaroy’s BaconFest and Blackbutt’s Avocado, music festivals cancelled due to Covid in devastating blow for South Burnett

In crushing news for the region, two of our biggest events have been cancelled just weeks out due to the growing Covid outbreak.

In a crushing blow for the South Burnett’s tourism industry, two major festivals have faced the cutting block due to the state’s growing Covid outbreak.

The Kingaroy BaconFest and Blackbutt’s Avocado and Music Festivals have made the devastating decisions to cancel their 2021 events, just weeks out from their dates.

The Kingaroy BaconFest committee made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s event and focus on making next year’s celebrations even ‘pigger’.

The iconic celebration of bacon was due to be held in just over two weeks, from August 20 to 22, but Chief Baconeer Kristy Board said with Brisbane in lockdown and Covid-19 numbers unpredictable it was too much of a risk.

“I’m not going to lie, there were tears when we realised it wasn’t going to be possible, but this is the world in which we currently live,” Ms Board said.

“This year’s celebrity chef Miguel Maestre is in lockdown in Sydney and a large number of food vendors, and performers including Pin-up Pageant co-ordinator Betty Butcher are in lockdown in Brisbane.

“In addition, we feel that it’s not the right time to be bringing large crowds of people into our community when the South Burnett has so far remained relatively Covid-free.”

The news is a major hit for the local tourism economy, with festivals in neighbouring town Blackbutt also canned.

“We know we’re not alone. Events across the country have been cancelled due to Covid and our hearts go out to the Blackbutt Avocado Festival committee who also announced cancellation plans this week,” Ms Board said.

Chairman of Blackbutt Avocado Festival Jeff Connor said his committee’s decision to can this years event was made “elbow-to elbow” with BaconFest.

“The Blackbutt Avocado Festival scheduled for 11 September and Blackbutt Music Festival scheduled for the 1-4 September have both been cancelled,” Mr Connor said.

“In step with the rest of our community, and in consultation with our food festival friends Kingaroy Baconfest, to keep the risk of Covid as low as possible to our communities, it is with heavy hearts we announce with Kingaroy Baconfest, that the Blackbutt Avocado Festival will too announce its cancellation of our 2021 scheduled festivals.

“Our September festivals bring many positive outcomes to our town of Blackbutt and the South Burnett surrounds. An economic boost with out-of-town funds, place and space activation, community morale, access to the arts, a chance to celebrate our farmers and local food promotion. However, we do not live-in normal times. Our committee has weighed up the risk and we no longer see a safe way to move forward with either of the Blackbutt festivals.”

Ms Board said thousands of volunteer hours had been spent brainstorming, planning and mapping out this year’s BaconFest event.

“It’s impossible to estimate just how much time goes into creating a festival such as BaconFest but the good news is, all the work has been done and it’s ready to roll out in August 2022,” she said.

“We’re very grateful to our sponsors, particularly our major sponsor SunPork Fresh Foods for their support and understanding at this time.”

SunPork Fresh Foods executive general manager Rhys Collins said while the decision to postpone was disappointing, it was the right thing to do.

“We’d like to thank the BaconFest Committee for all their hard work up to this point and look forward to a bigger and brighter 2022,” Mr Collins said.

The two festivals are major drawcards for the region, bring visitors from around the state.

Tickets for both the Wine and Swine dinner party and the Long Table Breakfast were sold out and a large number of general admission tickets had also been sold.

Ms Board said all ticketholders would be offered the opportunity to either roll their ticket over to next year’s event (19 – 21 August), apply for a refund or convert the price of the ticket into merchandise dollars that could be spent in the festival’s online store.

“Our 2021 BaconMan shirts feature our handsome mascot dancing with a peanut and the slogan ‘go nuts’. Given the nutty nature of the past 18 months, it’s the perfect souvenir to remember the BaconFest that almost was,” she said.

“While Covid restrictions permit, our wineries and other attractions remain open for business and there is plenty of delicious local produce to sample at the new Farm to Fork Collective shop in Wooroolin.”

Kingaroy BaconFest is supported by SunPork Fresh Foods and funded by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal in partnership with the Australian Government. The event is also supported by the Queensland Government through its Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! In Queensland events calendar.