Wonderfront Festival Pushed to 2021 By Pandemic

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The organizing team behind San Diego's Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival announced Friday tht they have canceled the 2020 event, originally scheduled for November, in light of ongoing concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wonderfront, which held its inaugural event in November 2019, will return in 2021, organizers said.

"This announcement greatly saddens us," said Paul Thornton, managing
partner of Wonderlust Events, in a news release. "We held out as long as possible, hoping we would see enough indications that a large-scale festival
event in the fall might be a realistic endeavor. However, due to the time and effort it takes to pull off a successful large event of this nature, and signals from Gov.
Gavin Newsom that events like music festivals aren't likely to be allowed until 2021, this announcement had to be made now.''

Dozens of bands took to the stages on Day 2 of the inaugural Wonderfront Festival.

Wonderfront 2019 featured more than 125 artists -- including headliners Ben Harper, MGMT and San Diego's own Slightly Stoopid -- playing across 10 stages over three-days. The event took place on San Diego Bay from the Broadway Pier to the Embarcadero parks. More than 57,000 people attended.

The event was held on Port of San Diego property, and that agency will work with organizers to ensure the new festival can continue.

"The Port of San Diego proudly supported the 2019 Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival on San Diego Bay for the enjoyment of Californians and visitors to the region," Port of San Diego spokesman Michael G. Brown stated in Friday's news release. "Our events team looks forward to working with Wonderfront when we all are confident that an event of this size and scale can be conducted in a safe  environment that meets the state's and the county of San Diego's guidelines to protect the health and safety  of our community."

Festivals organizers are still hoping to present some kind of event this fall.

"We will work with government officials over the next several  months to develop and adapt an upcoming event that will ensure the health and safety of our fellow San Diegans," said Ernie Hahn, managing partner of Wonderlust Events, in the same release. "It will be a collaboration in motion, so stay safe and know that we are looking forward to better days ahead for our beautiful city,''

More information will be released in coming months as it relates to a
fall event.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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