GUELPH – Organizers of the Hillside Festival have decided to cancel the in-person event and go virtual for the second year in a row.
“We are currently in a stay-at-home order until late May 2021, and anticipate some form of restrictions to public gatherings through the summer,” organizers state on the website.
“And so although it pains us to say this, we will not be able to hold the summer festival at Guelph Lake Island.”
Organizers point out that many festivals across Ontario and Canada have made the same difficult choice to cancel their events.
Organizers are arranging a virtual festival, and are hoping to include some live-streamed concerts.
A lot still depends on a lot, they say.
“The alert levels in our community and province and the accompanying health and safety parameters leading up to this virtual festival will dictate exactly what we are able to offer, so please stay tuned,” they say.
Ticket holders for the 2020 festival should hang on to those tickets as they will be valid for the 2022 festival that’s more certain to occur.
Those who wish to receive a refund can go to hillside.ca and follow the prompts. The deadline to receive a refund is May 31 at 11:59 p.m.
The organization is also accepting donations for those who wish to. Those who donate or defer their tickets to 2022 will receive a bandana featuring this year’s artwork.
News about a virtual festival will be posted on www.hillside.ca.
