Dearest Friends,
The time has come to make a tough decision regarding the 18th Annual Spring Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance.
As you all know, Shakori Hills is a very special place that brings together music and dance fans twice a year to celebrate life and art. Therefore, you know how painful it is to announce the cancellation of the Spring 2020 festival due to the coronavirus.
Carol Woodell, board president of the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center (SHCAC), would like you to know, “In the interest of slowing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and with particular concern for the health of our festival family, the performers, staff, and our Chatham County community, it is with deep sadness that we are canceling our Spring festival,” said Carol Woodell, board president of the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center.
The SHCAC is also cancelling all other programs until further notice, including all Road to Shakori shows, the Junior Appalachian Musicians classes, and multiple voice and art classes.
Carol said, “We choose to be proactive, given Governor Cooper’s Executive Order and the CDC’s recent recommendation that large events and mass gatherings be cancelled or postponed for the next 8 weeks. While we very much hope life returns to normal by early May, we are mindful of the scientific consensus that unknowns lie ahead. We want to see all of our supporters back healthy and safe in October.”
As previously announced, no ticket refunds will be given, instead SHCAC is waiving the no transfer clause of the purchase agreement.
All tickets and camping passes will be transferred to the fall 2020 festival, happening October 8 – 10.
However, ticket holders who prefer their purchases to be transferred to the Spring 2021 festival (May 6 – 9, 2021) are asked to please complete the online form found on the Tickets page by 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 17, 2020.
Donations to help ensure the continuation of our non-profit festival, and the important mission of the SHCAC to provide music and arts education to underserved communities in the Piedmont, can be made via PayPal on www.shakorihills.org or via the blue donate button the SHCAC Facebook page.
Carol has also made a commitment to everyone who launches a Facebook fundraiser to benefit SHCAC: she will personally donate $25 to every SHCAC fundraiser launched on Facebook.
Festival questions can be submitted to shakorihills@grassrootsfest.org for the quickest response or by calling the office at (919) 542-8142.
Thank you for your understanding and support. We encourage you to stay in touch with us on social media and look forward to seeing you in the fall to celebrate!
Sincerely-
Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival Staff
We love you, Shakori.
Stay well, healthy and safe and while our hearts won’t sing as loudly or dance as wildly without you this May, October will bring all back into peace and harmony, all will be well, someway.
I wonder if it would be possible to have a virtual festival? Some musicians in Wilmington recently did this. You can then send them some tips/buy there merchandise etc. Not sure who to discuss this with but just throwing the idea out there. At least we can watch some of the bands possibly from our own backyards. It won’t be the same but it might help them out and it would make us feel a little better too. just a thought.