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Coronavirus Uncertainty Cancels Isle Of Wight Garlic Festival

Uncertainty over the safety of events has led to the cancellation of this year's Isle of Wight Garlic Festival.

Organisers say it is too much a "financial gamble" to go ahead, with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

They say "it remains unclear to us if a high-capacity food and music festival will be possible to stage safely in August".

The show was planned for the weekend of August 21 and 22.

A spokesperson said:

"Other Island events in their own way are just as unique as ours, each operates slightly differently.

"These shows may still take place safely because higher ticket prices help them absorb the additional costs of staging their shows and we plan to attend as many of them as we possibly can this summer!

"Some event organisations’ have benefitted from substantial arts council funding grants - which will be an enormous help to them, but the £100,000 risk in staging the Garlic Festival is ours and ours alone.

"Without the usual crowds and with just a few months to go, we think the continued uncertainty creates too large a gamble. There is no guarantee that Boris’ roadmap will happen as he hopes on 21st June and even if it does, the time scale for us is just too short.

"We have been in regular contact with the council’s licensing and environmental health officers this year, as well as a representative from Public Health England and the NHS.

"All remain cautious about the influx of huge crowds at events this summer. Ultimately the health and safety of the public, our volunteers, staff, helpers and neighbours remain everyone’s primary concern."

It's hoped the 2022 Garlic Festival will return "bigger and better than ever".

Updates can be found on the Garlic Festival website.

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