Edmonton Folk Fest cancels 2021 festival with 'variants and vaccine rollout still uncertain'

EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Folk Music Festival cancelled its 2021 festival at Gallagher Park for the second year in a row.

Set to take place in August, Edmonton Folk Fest cancelled the event on Monday citing safety concerns with the ongoing pandemic.

"With so many variables at play, the complexity of planning and delivering a festival of this size makes it impossible to move forward in our usual manner," a release read. "Without full vaccination, we won’t be fully safe from the spread of the virus. With virus variants and vaccine rollout still uncertain, the impossibility of social distancing at our event could lead to community spread."

Premier Jason Kenney recently said this would be Alberta's best summer ever and that with increased vaccinations, events like the Calgary Stampede would be allowed to go on.

• READ MORE: The 'best summer in Alberta's history' one year off, predicts local festival producer

The Edmonton Folk Music Festival instead once again opted for online content, and "if small gatherings are allowed, then we hope to add some community engagement to the mix."

The 2021 Edmonton Folk Music Festival is cancelled. As profoundly disappointing as this news is, we believe it is the only safe way forward. We are optimistic about a return in 2022, and can’t wait to see you on the hill. For full statement please visit https://t.co/PXvw2O6CFN pic.twitter.com/vygNws6JM2

— Edmonton Folk Fest (@edmfolkfest) April 12, 2021

Organizers are optimistic the festival will return to normal in August 2022.​

For more information, visit Folk Fest's website.

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  The Film and Video Arts Society of Alberta (FAVA) and the Edmonton Folk Music Festival have collaborated to create a documentary celebrating Folk Fest (Courtesy: FAVA TV)