By Luke Voogt
The National Celtic Folk Festival in Portarlington will not go ahead on the Queen’s birthday long weekend due to Victoria’s latest snap lockdown, organisers have announced.
“We regret to announce that the National Celtic Folk Festival 2021 will not be going ahead on the June long weekend,” they said in a statement on the event’s website today.
“This has been a very difficult decision for us.”
Organisers cancelled the event, previously scheduled to begin on June 11, following advice and discussions with stakeholders.
“We understand the lockdown will end before the long weekend, but we and our contractors have lost one week’s work prior to coming on site,” they said.
“This is a crucial week in our planning and preparation.
“Our decision not to go ahead with the festival eliminates the high risk of the lockdown being extended and a possible scaled return to pre-lock down capacities.
“Both these scenarios would impact our suppliers and stakeholders and venue capacities, which would not allow us to put on the event we had planned for.
“We will assess our position at the end of this lockdown with the hope to maybe reschedule the event in the coming months, but we don’t have any further details at this early stage.”
Organisers pledged to refund all tickets over coming weeks.
“If we do reschedule for another date, our current ticket holders will be notified for the first opportunity to purchase a new ticket,” they said.
“Artists, performers, volunteers, suppliers, market stalls and partners – we will contact you individually.
“We are just so disappointed, as we know you will be. Please bear with us we work towards getting in touch with you.
“This is heartbreaking for all of us, considering we had to cancel our 18th birthday in 2020.
“We were feeling excited about going ahead in 2021 and buoyed by everyone’s support and encouragement.
“We know this outcome will impact many of your plans, and this only makes it harder and more disappointing to have made this decision.”
