Salmonfest 2020, three days of fish, love and music set for July 31-Aug. 2 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds, is one of the latest victims of COVID-19, but yes, tickets are already available for Salmonfest 2021, next Aug. 6-8.
The musical line-up will be largely the same too, said Jim Stearns, executive director of Salmonfest, and a veteran of over 40 years in the entertainment business.
Organizers of the state’s largest music festival told fans in a Facebook announcement on May 24 that due to restrictions on social distancing and more, to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in Alaska, the festivities have been cancelled until 2021.
“We do not believe that it is possible to have the festival as usual and will continue to work hard to be able to bring you the best 10-year anniversary festival yet in 2021,” the Facebook message read.
Apologies were offered to the people of Ninilchik and the Salmonfest family of bands, vendors, staff and volunteers who had worried that the festival, which annually attracts some 8,000 people, would proceed as normal during the pandemic.
“We try to take everyone’s thoughts and opinions into account, but believe that the Ninilchik people are of the most concern and there has been enough serious concerns expressed that we must and do respect,” the message said.
Organizers noted that communities outside of Alaska and the United States that have tried to open back up to business as usual were experiencing spikes in the number of people infected in new cases or second waves. While restrictions are lifting in Alaska, social distancing may be the last recommendation to be lifted and other “ifs” to consider make planning for the usual event difficult, they said.
Salmonfest organizers now plan to enter into discussions with local health officials about the possibility of a smaller scale gathering if changing circumstances allow for that. Given the space we have, if we sold 500 tickets, had a couple of bands and maintained proper spacing, I don’t see why we can’t do it,” said Stearns. “We are talking with other people who want to do it, but it won’t be called Salmonfest.”
Meanwhile Salmonfest sent out a survey to all fans who provided their email addresses, asking their thoughts on a variety of Salmonfest related issues, including ideas for future plans.
Those who had already purchased tickets for the 2020 event can cash them in before June 19, or use them for Salmonfest 2021. Stearns said that as of March 1 the festival had already sold north of 1,000 tickets for this year.
The annual event, which supports protection of fish habitat, and Bristol Bay salmon habitat in particular, offers along with dozens of bands on four stages throughout the festival, education on Alaska’s fisheries and other environmental efforts to keep the state ecologically healthy.
