A POPULAR Barham music, wine and food festival has been cancelled, with organisers conceding it’s “simply not the right time to be hosting such an event”.
River Daze, which attracts thousands of people to Riverside Park, was scheduled for March 5 in the hope to attract visitors to the NSW border town.
Headline acts included Chocolate Starfish, The Chantoozies and 2011 The X Factor Australia winner Reece Mastin.
“To align with recent government safety regulations round the rapid COVID-19 transmission rates, River Daze organisers regretfully announce that the scheduled for Saturday, March 5 will be cancelled for the second consecutive year,” event co-ordinator Faye Ashwin said.
“It has been a difficult but necessary decision to make seven weeks out from the event.
“We owe our community a duty of care to ensure its health and well being is held paramount.
“As a committee of enthusiastic local volunteers, keen to showcase where we live work and play on the banks of the Murray, we acknowledge that timing is everything and it is simply not the right time to be hosting such an event”
She said the committee was disappointed by the decision.
“We took our time to commit to running another River Daze, watching and waiting to see what may happen in the world around us,” Ms Ashwin said.
“By the end of November 2021, there was a confidence that allowed us to start planning River Daze 2022.
“David Storer (Mildura Entertainment) had created a fabulous rock and roll line up with great artists. It was going to be a great evening out.
“My committee was working hard to ensure that the success of River Daze 2020 was a launching pad for another outstanding event in 2022 of food, wine, kids entertainment and music.”
The organisers were “thrilled” with ticket sales and “wonderful” business sponsorship.
Any tickets purchased and sponsorships already paid will be fully refunded.
