Ability Festival is the latest Aussie festival to have its 2020 event canned due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as founder Dylan Alcott regretfully pulls the pin a month ahead of the annual fest.
The fully inclusive and accessible festival was locked in to happen at Coburg Velodrome in Melbourne’s inner north on April 4 with acts like Crooked Colours, What So Not, Safia, The Preatures, and heaps more donating their time to perform.
Dylan Alcott expressed his upset at having to cancel the event, which was announced at approximately the same time Prime Minister Scott Morrison advised that non-essential gatherings of 500 people or more should be cancelled from Monday, March 16.
“With an extremely heavy heart, I have to announce that Ability Fest for 2020 is going to be cancelled,” he said.
“In the current climate with coronavirus, we do not want to put any of our patrons in harm’s way. I’m absolutely bloody gutted because it’s my favourite day of the year.”
Dylan also advised that Ability Festival tickets will be refunded if punters wish to get their money back, but reminded everyone that 100% of ticket sales are still going to disability charities and tickets that don’t get refunded will be going to a good cause.
“Because this was a charity festival, 100% of the proceeds are going to help people with a disability,” he said.
“So if you want to leave your donation in, I promise you it will go to a great home helping young Australians across this country achieve their dreams.”
He also confirmed that Ability Festival will return in 2021.
