Organisers have made the decision to cancel Taste Bundaberg Festival in 2020 following Coronavirus advice.
The community’s health and wellbeing remains the priority of the Festival.
The announcement is incredibly disappointing for organisers, stakeholders and patrons, but the organisers have been grateful for everyone’s patience and understanding to date.
Bundaberg Regional Council Tourism and Events Manager Sue-Anne Chapman said cancelling an event that attracted nearly 20,000 local and visiting patrons and celebrated the region's incredible foodie offering was a very difficult decision.
“Bundaberg Regional Council and Bundaberg Tourism work in partnership in the delivery of Taste Bundaberg Festival and in considering the situation, we weighed up advice from professionals right across the nation to ensure the safety of our community and our guests,” she said.
Bundaberg Tourism CEO Katherine Reid said the unprecedented impacts of the Coronavirus were being felt right across the industry.
“There are hard decisions being made by businesses and all levels of government to try to slow the spread of the virus to protect our colleagues, friends and communities, as well as our economy,” she said.
“It’s in these times of uncertainty that we need to come together and support each other, so that we can weather the storm and be ready to welcome visitors back when the Coronavirus has passed.
“Our community has experienced great hardship before, and our resilience and strong community spirit will get us through this tough time now. We are calling on all people in the Bundaberg region to remain positive and remain united.”
It is anticipated that 2021 will see the event back on the menu, bringing the community and guests back to roll up their sleeves, get thier hands dirty, pile plates high and leave glasses empty.
“Taste Bundaberg Festival is just paused. We will celebrate around the festival tables again in 2021,” said Ms Reid.
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