Rockin’ River has announced that the popular country music festival, which is held in Merritt each year, has officially been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related health restrictions, which place limits on large gatherings. 

This is the second year that the festival has had to be postponed, but organizers feel confident that the event will be back bigger and better than ever by 2022. 

“We are happy to say we will be back in 2022 on the usual BC Day long weekend, July 28-31, 2022 and look forward to bringing the party back to the river,” reads a statement on the festival’s social media. 

Those who booked tickets and campsites for this year will see their dates bumped to next year, although the option for a refund is available and will be explained via an email from Front Gate later this week, with the refund window being open for 14 days after receipt of the email. 

“We will announce the brand new 2022 lineup this fall, and are working hard to make it one of the biggest years yet,” the statement concludes.

Bass Coast, an electronic music and arts festival which also takes place at the Merritt festival grounds, was also cancelled for the second year in a row, making the announcement of their postponement last month.