After weeks of speculation, festival organizers made the decision to cancel the sold-out late June festival in Rothbury. Ticketholders can retain their wristbands for 2021 or request refunds.
Going Dark for 2020: Electric Forest won’t be back until June 2021. (Photo/Anna Sink)
Electric Forest 2020 won’t be firing up in Rothbury after all.
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The 10th anniversary celebration of Electric Forest in late June has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with organizers instead looking ahead to the “positive vibrations” and “energy” of the festival in the summer of 2021.
In a statement on its website, festival organizers insisted the 2021 event would be “an immense moment of celebration.”
“After weeks of discussions, input and direction from state and local authorities, and with a full focus on the safety of our community, we have made the decision to look ahead and reunite in 2021,” the festival declared today.
The announcement comes 12 days after the Rothbury Village Council voted down a proposal submitted by festival organizers Madison House Presents and AEG Presents to delay the mammoth Michigan event until Sept. 10-13 due to the coronavirus crisis.
The String Cheese Incident (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
At that time, the organizers indicated they were “working hard to explore alternative dates for Electric Forest 2020, and find a time that works best for both our community and our neighbors.”
Originally slated to take place June 25-28 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, passes for the 10th Electric Forest sold out quickly, with the festival scheduled to feature headlining sets by The String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, Flume, Major Lazer, Big Gigantic, Louis the Child, Diplo and The Disco Biscuits.
More than 40,000 festivalgoers attend Electric Forest each year.
Those who purchased wristbands for this year’s festival can either retain them — as well as any purchased lodging packages — for use in 2021, or submit for a refund (including fees) by May 21. Details online here.
Not Social-Distancing: The crowds at Electric Forest. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Debate has swirled online for weeks about moving forward with the festival in light of social-distancing and the coronavirus pandemic.
Today’s announcement sparked a variety of posts on Facebook from disappointed as well as upbeat festival devotees:
• “Electric Forest, very disappointed in your decision. There is still time to wait things out and not make a decision until June. Also, you can’t have a 10th anniversary on the 11th year.”
• “I just want to say thank you Electric Forest for being so considerate and offering refunds! Makes me love this festival even more.”
• “This was a good decision! Burning Man and all other events, including sports have been canceled for the remainder of the year so it’s not a shocker EF chose to do the same. Hopefully, this pandemic will be less of an issue next year. Stay safe everyone.”
Find full Local Spins coverage of Electric Forest and past festivals online here.
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