THE PLUG has been pulled on Stratford River Festival yet again.
The popular event, celebrating the River Avon, was all set to return in July after a four-year hiatus.
But with just two months to go, organisers LSD Promotions announced via Facebook the festival had been postponed due to “unforeseeable operational and timing constraints”.
The full statement reads: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the postponement of the Stratford-upon-Avon River Festival 2024.
“Despite greatest efforts, unforeseeable operational and timing constraints have meant that this year’s event is unable to go ahead.
“We understand that this news will come as a disappointment to many, ourselves included. The River Festival holds a special place in the hearts of locals and tourists, and we share in the disappointment of not being able to celebrate alongside the community.”
Past festivals have attracted tens of thousands of visitors and this year’s event had promised another three days of family entertainment, with food and drink, stalls, live music and a colourful parade of narrow boats.
But there is still hope the festival is not dead in the water and it can make a return to the town.
Festival organisers added: “If we can deliver this event in the future, this will be announced via our social platforms.
“There are still many exciting events to look forward to in Stratford. We encourage you to explore all that this beautiful town has to offer and make the most of the summer months ahead.”
Stratford River Festival failed to go ahead last year after Statford BID announced it was unable to put on the event due to “the backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis, calendar congestion and resource pressures”.
The year before that, resources were pooled to run a Jubilee event in the summer instead.
And it has been a tough nine months all-round for Stratford’s events calendar.
Stratford Food Festival was almost cancelled at the final hour back in September after event organisers Cocker Hoop Creative pulled out. Stratford BID managed to rally around and save the event by appointing local company LSD Promotions to run it a month later than planned.
Stratford’s Victorian Christmas Market has also come in for intense criticism for over-crowding and creating traffic chaos for locals and will be scaled back due to health and safety concerns.
The format for this year will see the Christmas market take place on two consecutive weekends rather than a continuous four-day Thursday to Sunday event.
