Folkfest latest summer event halted
The COVID -19 pandemic has taken down another Saskatoon summer event.
Folkfest has announced an “indefinite postponement” due to the virus.
In a public letter posted to the Saskatoon Folkfest’s website, the organizers of the festival said the decision was made with “profound sadness.”
But they also noted they felt this was “the only way to ensure the safety of our organizers, patrons, and volunteers.”
“It is very difficult to witness the unprecedented challenges the cultural sector is collectively facing,” the Folkfest board of directors wrote.
The 2020 Saskatoon Folkfest was scheduled for Aug. 13-15 at venues throughout Saskatoon.
Last year’s rendition was a celebration of the 40th annual festival, and Folkfest has consistently drawn thousands of attendees every summer.
Folkfest is the most recent staple of Saskatoon’s summers to announce it will either be cancelled or indefinitely postponed in 2020.
Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, the Fringe Festival, the jazz festival, the children’s festival and others have all halted or tentatively rescheduled their events throughout the coming summer.
Folkfest organizers are looking to “explore alternatives” that will still meet with public health and safety guidelines for dealing with the COVID -19 pandemic, the letter noted.
“Given the restrictions on public gatherings and the need to maintain physical distancing practices there may be many hurdles to overcome however, we are exploring innovative ways to connect and share culture.”