The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival has been cancelled for the second year running, organisers have announced this morning (Thursday).
The annual Isle of Wight Garlic Festival, which was due to be held on 21st/22nd August, is said to be an enormous financial gamble and with the ongoing coronavirus uncertainty, it remains unclear to organisers if a high-capacity food and music festival will be possible to stage safely in August in the way it is usually enjoyed.
A spokesperson has said:
“Other island events in their own way are just as unique as ours, each operates slightly differently. These shows may still take place safely because higher ticket prices help them absorb the additional costs of staging their shows and we plan to attend as many of them as we possibly can this summer!
“Some event organisations’ have benefitted from substantial arts council funding grants – which will be an enormous help to them, but the £100,000 risk in staging the Garlic Festival is ours and ours alone. Without the usual crowds and with just a few months to go, we think the continued uncertainty creates too large a gamble. There is no guarantee that Boris’ roadmap will happen as he hopes on 21st June and even if it does, the time scale for us is just too short.
“We have been in regular contact with the council’s licensing and environmental health officers this year, as well as a representative from Public Health England and the NHS. All remain cautious about the influx of huge crowds at events this summer. Ultimately the health and safety of the public, our volunteers, staff, helpers and neighbours remain everyone’s primary concern”.
Attentions now turn to next year’s Garlic Festival, which will be held on 20th/21st August 2022.
The spokesperson has added:
“We very much thank those of you who continue to support and contact us through these challenging times, we appreciate it!
“We offer our sincere apologies for all those affected, we are disheartened and disappointed that for a second consecutive year we have been unable to put on the island’s biggest summer show”.
Told you, IW festival will be next.
The Island will be busier this summer than ever, and as yet unknown variants of CV including the Indian version will arrive with all the people.
Once and ONLY once their purses and wallets have been emptied here will WE here of the true figures of rate of infection.
This is not going away, only the figures are kept from us all when money is being made in a short season.
Jerry its best you stay under your bed and let the rest of us get on with our lives
Bed wetter! Can’t hideaway forever
I agree the festival should be not going ahead this year, come on council show your teeth and prove that this new council are going to PROTECT us islanders. Unlike Stewart and his motley crew.
Stewart and his motley crew aren’t in charge!