It was supposed to be a banner year for the New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee as it celebrated its anniversary. But like so many other summer events, the longstanding festival has been cancelled because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Jubilee, which each year draws thousands of people from throughout Nova Scotia and beyond had been scheduled to take place July 31 through Aug. 2.
“Music is something that brings us together. In Pictou County, the Jubilee is the event that does just that: it brings people together and brings people home. Patron safety is always a top priority for our board, it is a disappointing yet necessary decision we needed to make,“ says Janine Linthorne Riverfront Jubilee volunteer board of directors chairperson. “This is particularly disheartening as we were planning to celebrate our 25th anniversary this summer. We held off announcing our lineup due to the unknowns of what COVID-19 would bring back in March. However, this is the right choice for our patrons, volunteers, performers and supporters.”
In addition to fans who make the festival a success, the Riverfront Jubilee relies heavily on the local business community, who like many businesses in the Nova Scotian and Canadian economy are under intense financial pressure. The stress on the Canadian economy has been felt in Pictou County and the Jubilee volunteer board of directors felt they were not in the position to ask sponsors and supporters to make donations or offer services, when many of these businesses have needed to change operational behaviors or close in the face of COVID-19.
Ticket packages purchased during Christmas 2019 will be honoured at the next Riverfront Jubilee or patrons can request a refund by emailing [email protected]
