P.E.I.'s Cavendish Beach Music Festival again cancelled over COVID-19 crisis

The continuing COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cancellationofP.E.I.'s Cavendish Beach Music Festival once again in 2021.

Whitecap Entertainment, the organizers of the country music festival, announced the cancellationof the July 9-11 eventin a news release Tuesday morning. Whitecap president Jeff Squires told Mainstreet P.E.I.the outlook for the 2021 festival had been bleak for some time.

"I don't think it was unexpected," said Squires.

"With what's going on in the world and Atlantic Canada, I think it was just the time to let people officially know."

Those still holding onto the 2020 tickets they had boughtin the hopes there would be a 2021 festival will be eligible for an automaticrefund as of June 1, organizers said. It could take up to two weeks from then for the money to appear on customers' statements.

The festival had been attracting about 25,000 people in recent years.

Since its first outing in 2009, Cavendish Beach Music Festival has become one of the leading country music events in North America, attracting artists such as Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, and Taylor Swift.

Squires said the cancellation is not only disappointing for his group and fans, but also for Island businesses that enjoyed millions of dollars in economic spinoffs.

While there will be no headline festival this year, Squires said some kind of event may be possible.

"Last year, we were able to do something, and we may be able to do something this year. We'll see what the situation is," he said.

Last year Whitecap hosted four drive-in concerts with local acts at the concert venue.

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