These are truly extraordinary times. Three months ago, we could not have envisaged where we are today, having spent six weeks in isolation. Unfortunately, it has now become clear that with the continuation of social distancing we will not be able to run the folk festival this year.
We are naturally very disappointed to make this announcement, not just for our loyal festival goers but for all the artists, traders, and others who will be missing an important source of income this year. We will also be unable to make our usual charitable donations.
The most important thing is that we keep safe and are able look forward. We will be trying as far as possible to put together the same programme next year (9th to 11th July 2021). You will want to know what this means for you now:
Ticket Holders – For those who have purchased tickets for 2020 we are rescheduling the event to next year and your tickets will automatically roll to 2021. If you would like instead to get a refund you need to confirm this to us. It will help us if you can roll your tickets to 2021 avoiding the cost and management of processing refunds and in return you will have your tickets at 2020 prices.
What you need to do:
Keeping your tickets for 2021 – The good thing is you do not need to do anything! We will be re-dating the event and your ticket will be valid for 2021.
Refunds – If you would like a refund of your tickets please contact us by the 30th of June 2020. You need to email tickets@priddyfolk.org with the name the ticket was ordered by and the ticket number (found on your email confirmation). You must instruct us to refund your ticket/s very clearly. We ask you to bear with us as we process these requests. We will get through them as quickly as possible, and we believe that once processed refunds are very quick.
————————
Priddy Folk Festival is run by volunteers and we want to do what we can to continue our charitable objectives of promoting folk music. To this end we are working on an “isolation video” from pupils at the Blue School in Wells to give them the performance opportunity that we normally give them at the festival as part of our Priddy Rising project. We are also working on a video platform for some of the artists we have had to disappoint with our cancellation. These are works in progress and we hope to share more details with you soon.
Finally, whilst it is a terrible time with true tragedy for individuals, we want to focus on hope for the future. Some people are working in vital services for food, health, education and safety, making truly heroic efforts, and we applaud all of these. For the rest of us the time we have been forced to spend in isolation has allowed many of us to reassess our priorities. We have witnessed a fantastic outpouring of creativity which we hope continues into the post-Covid world ahead.