THUNDER BAY – BayFest is not happening this year.
Organizers made the announcement Wednesday afternoon, just over two weeks before the event was scheduled, citing a combination of factors leading to the festival’s cancellation.
The recently rebranded music festival, formerly Country on the Bay, was set for July 18 to 20 at Fort William Historical Park with Loverboy, Big Wreck, Chilliwack, Harlequin, 54-40, Kim Mitchell, Lou Gramm (the former lead singer of Foreigner), the Headpins, Trooper and Streetheart set to perform.
In a news release, festival organizers said the decision was not made lightly.
“Despite our team’s tireless efforts and deep commitment to bringing another unforgettable festival experience to our community, a combination of logistical complications, significantly increased production costs, and the rising cost of the U.S. dollar have made it financially unfeasible to move forward,” they said.
“Additionally, ticket sales have not reached the levels necessary to support the scale and quality of the event we strive to deliver.”
All tickets purchased online through Front Gate Tickets will be automatically refunded “in as little as 30 days with no additional action required.”
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming had announced $125,000 in funding for the festival this spring.