Tassie folks face another cancelled summer festival

Uncertainty looming over international travel for the foreseeable future has seen another major local summer festival cancelled months in advance.

Uncertainty looming over international travel for the foreseeable future has seen another major local summer festival cancelled months in advance.

Normally attracting a slew of international artists, the beloved Cygnet Folk Festival will not go ahead next year.

Originally scheduled for January 8 – 11 2021, artistic director Erin Collins said bringing about 6,000 attendees to the township presented an “unacceptable health risk”.

“The festival relies on campgrounds and local billet hosts for accommodation of performers and attendees alike,” she said.

“Camping facilities are very basic and maintaining the level of hygiene that will still be required would not be possible.”

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She said the festival risked suffering “substantial” financial losses from the lack of international stars and from financial constraints on attendees.

“All the funds from any event go directly towards hosting the following years’ event,” Ms Collins said.

“It is prudent to put our efforts and resources into producing a wonderful 2022 40th anniversary event.”

Cygnet Folk Festival

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The news comes as more southern festivals grapple with uncertainty, with Dark Mofo, Huon Valley midwinter festival and the Taste of Tasmania recently announcing closures.

Other spring and summer festivals are hoping for the best approaching the warmer months.

Australian Wooden Boat Festival organisers have parallel-planned a green-light and yellow-light version of their February 2021 event dependent on social distancing restrictions.

Falls Festival organisers announced on Facebook their Marion Bay New Year’s party would go ahead with a “limited edition” all-Australian line-up.

“Bring in the New Year with the very best homegrown talent while also giving back to the Australian music industry who have been doing it tough through this COVID vortex,” organisers said.

Middleton Country Fair co-ordinator Gloria Lonnigan said their February 2021 festival nearby the Cygnet Folk Festival was currently undecided.

“We’re hoping we’re able to go ahead with the fair but there are a lot of questions we have to answer,” she said.

“We certainly have not cancelled, but we’ll wait and see what happens.”

In Deloraine, director Robert van der Elst has tentatively scheduled the Tasmanian Craft Fair for October 30 – November 2 this year.

“At this stage it is felt premature to cancel this iconic event and we are proceeding with our preparations to hold the Craft Fair as planned,” he said.

“We intend to make a decision to cancel or proceed in July when hopefully it will be possible to make a more informed decision.”