In another blow to 2020 from COVID-19, the City of Victor Harbor has cancelled this year’s Rock’n’Roll Festival.

Instead the council will launch a program of smaller scale events, starting in September when the festival would have been held.

The decision was prompted by concerns about the impact of large gatherings and whether restrictions would allow the festival to continue its success of previous years.

In an online statement the council says it was a tough decision to cancel the event, but the amount of time, planning and volunteers involved to program, prepare and promote a festival of its scale made it a necessary decision.

“It is without doubt that the Victor Harbor Rock n' Roll Festival provides a significant boost to the local economy, and much-loved community celebration after the cold winter periods.

“It is still vitally important that we continue to attract tourists to the region to provide important economic returns to the community.

“To achieve this, council has redirected the 2020 Rock n' Roll Festival funding of $27,500 towards the delivery of a program of smaller activities over a longer period with each individual activity attracting smaller crowds in line with COVID-19 guidelines.”

The new city activation program will coincide with completion of the Soldier’s Memorial Gardens amphitheatre and is likely to include live music, performing artists, boat cruises and art and wine classes.

The council plans to bring back the Rock’n’Roll Festival bigger and better than ever in 2021, asking everyone to save the dates – Friday 17 to Sunday 19 September.

Read the City of Victor Harbor’s full statement online.