Calgary Folk Fest has been cancelled

The Calgary Folk Fest will not happen this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The festival, which brings around 53,000 people to Prince's Island, wasscheduled for July 23 to 26 and would have been the 41st year for the major music event.

This year's lineup was to include The National, Orville Peck and more, but the final lineup was never announced.

Many artists booked at the 2020 festival will instead perform in 2021, according to a release.

"I know that this was enormously difficult," Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said during a press conference Thursday. "Onehighlight of my summer is taking my shoes off and being barefoot in that island in the middle of the city, listening to the transformative power of music and art.

"Ultimately, these organizations that are so incredibly important to our city are doing the right thing. Exactly the right thing."

Anyone who's already purchased a ticket can request a full refund or donate it for a tax receipt.

The news of the cancellation was announced Thursday afternoon,the same day that the Calgary Stampede announced it would cancel its annual event for the first time in more than a century.

It also comes two days after theEdmonton Folk Fest was officially cancelled.