The 35th annual Woodford Folk Festival has been cancelled, with organisers confirming the popular cultural event will not go ahead this year.
In a statement posted on social media late Friday afternoon, organisers said “The time has come for us to formally announce that Woodford Folk Festival will not be going ahead this Summer. It feels so surreal to be writing those words. We have been hinting at this for weeks now, however we wanted to be able to share some good news at the same time.”
“Even with our heavy hearts, we are excited to announce a new five day/night inspired camping holiday at Woodfordia, now called Bushtime. What is it? It’s a campground, at Woodfordia, our parkland which has never looked more beautiful. Everyone’s Bushtime experience will be different. We’ll be hosting an evening concert at The Pond, some citizen science talks and demonstrations and a few other delights.”
“We hope you’ll be immersing in nature with swims in Lake Gkula, bush walking, biking, picnics in secluded spots and experiencing evenings under the stars. There will also be options to book workshops (yoga, music, visual arts, circus, humanities) throughout the day for an hour or an intensive multi-day learning.”
Bushtime will be held over the September holidays on the following dates: Saturday 19 – Wednesday 23 September / Saturday 26 – Wednesday 30 September. Bookings open on Tuesday 25 August. Priority will be given to Woodfordia Citizens by making them available a couple of days before this date. Information, ticket conditions, FAQ’s, performance and workshops details will all be available online when bookings open.
The largest gathering of artists and musicians in Australia, the Woodford Folk Festival is held annually over six days and six nights in late December. More than 2,000 local, national and international, artists, musicians and presenters put on over 400 acts throughout 25 venues to an estimated audience of 132,000 people.
The festival begins each year with the iconic Opening Ceremony and closes with the spectacular showcase, the Fire Event on New Year’s Day. This year would have been the 35th Woodford Folk Festival and the 28th held at Woodfordia. For more information, visit: www.woodfordfolkfestival.com for details.
Image: Opening Ceremony – courtesy of Woodford Folk Festival