The COVID-19 axe is once again starting to fall on the city's summer music festivals.
Organizers of the Home County Music & Art Festival announced on Thursday this year's event, which was scheduled for July 16-18, is being postponed until 2022 because of the pandemic. This is the first of the city's popular festivals to make the decision not to hold an in-person event in 2021.
“We are all dreaming of the day when we can safely gather once again to enjoy music, food, shopping, and most of all, each other’s good company,” Tim Fraser, the festival's artistic director, said in a statement. “The decision to postpone was very difficult, but necessary under the current uncertainty. While we will be looking forward to resuming our in-person festival in 2022, we are looking at ways to entertain virtually, as well as safely and responsibly in the coming year.”
The Home County Folk League board, which oversees the festival, noted that while there are tremendous strides being made to end the pandemic, it remains unclear when it will be safe for large crowds to gather. The annual festival in Victoria Park typically draws more than 50,000 people each year.
Last year's live event was also cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, but bounced back as a free virtual concert called Stay Home County 46.5. It featured six performers.
Donations for future Home County events and activities continue to be collected through the festival's website.
Other long-standing summer festivals that have yet to make a decision on whether to move forward with live events this summer include TD Sunfest, Start.ca Rock the Park, London Ribfest, and the London Food and Craft Beer festival.
