Sussex SummerFEST

It takes an army to pull together a great event. We're thankful to all of the volunteers that make SummerFEST possible. You embody the community spirit that started this festival, and we miss each and every one of you. Looking forward to seeing you again very soon.

We're thinking back to warmer times on this snowy morning, back to last July when we had Not Now on our stage bringing down the house! Looking forward to building more memories in the future! What has been your favourite SummerFEST moment to date?

With social distancing in full effect and uncertainty ahead for the coming weeks, we all need something to look forward to. Once we have flattened the COVID-19 curve and can once again safely gather to enjoy local events, talent, and festivals, families will be looking to do just that. The Board of Sussex Tourism Festival Inc today announced that online sales have been opened for the RCMP Musical Ride in Sussex planned for this summer. Local ticket sales will be delayed until... public health authorities declare that it is once again safe to visit public spaces. The Board is optimistic and is making every effort to ensure that the organization is ready to host the Musical Ride in July provided that it is safe to do so and does not contravene advice from public health officials and government agencies. The RCMP Musical Ride is scheduled to be in Sussex on July 16 and 17, 2020. Tickets can be purchased at summerinsussex.ca.

Yesterday the Board and the Organizing Committee met to discuss our 2020 event plan. Due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and the impossibility to predict the situation in July, we have taken the following action: We are delaying ticket sales while we work with the RCMP Musical Ride on possible contingencies in the event we are unable to host in July. Effective immediately Board Meetings and Organizing Committee Meetings will occur via videoconference.... We are monitoring recommendations from public health authorities and modifying our logistics planning as needed. Planning for the third day of SummerFEST (July 18) has been suspended. Our first priority is the safety and well-being of volunteers, attendees, and performers. We continue to work with relevant authorities to determine the best course of action. The Board remains in frequent contact to discuss the situation as it develops. We encourage everyone to follow recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (NB), and local health authorities.