Due to continued uncertainty over the regulations for events that will be in place in Scotland by 12th August, Doune the Rabbit Hole’s organisers have announced the postponement of the 2021 festival till July 2022.
After making every effort to keep the festival going they say: ‘while we firmly believe we could hold the festival safely, the areas of uncertainty over this summer’s public health regulation in Scotland remain too great.’
Continuing: ‘there is therefore no practical alternative but to cancel now, rather than potentially have to cancel on 9th August after we would have physically built the entire festival and you would be almost packed and ready to pitch your tents!’
They are asking ticket holders to carry their tickets over till the 2022 event to ensure they financially survive the effects of cancellation and to allow them to plan again for 2022.
Doune the Rabbit Hole 2022 will take place 14th to 17th July
Keep an eye on their social media channels for more news on the 2022 line-up.
Full message from the festival below
We are heartbroken to announce the postponement of Doune the Rabbit Hole 2021 due to continued uncertainty over the regulations for events that will be in place in Scotland by 12 August.
We realise that this will be enormously disappointing to a great many people, principally our audience, but also the musicians and artists, traders, volunteers, the hundreds of people who we employ at the festival itself, and the businesses and residents local to the festival who will be missing out for yet another year.
The decision has been taken after every possible effort to put the festival on. This included a meeting on 20 July with Kate Forbes MSP, Scotland’s Finance Secretary, who has been most helpful. Since then, her officials from the Scottish Government’s Major Events Team, have been working with us and Stirling Council to try to save this year’s festival.
However, while we firmly believe we could hold the festival safely, the areas of uncertainty over this summer’s public health regulation in Scotland remain too great.
Our festival is licensed by Stirling Council, who have taken the view that they cannot grant the licence until they know what Covid regulations are in place from 9 August. The following is from an email to us from Stirling Council of 15 July :
“The Council is waiting on the Scottish Government to confirm the position on capacity limits and Covid restrictions, if any, for events which are scheduled to take place after 9 August. The Council is unable to make the necessary arrangements until it can advise the Panel members of the restrictions that are in place at the date when the festival takes place”
Accordingly, the Council licensing panel has been called for 9 August to consider our festival starting 12 August, and what conditions may be placed on it. These may be fine, or may prove impossible for us to meet while providing an event of the quality you are used to.
There is therefore no practical alternative but to cancel now, rather than potentially have to cancel on 9 August after we would have physically built the entire festival and you would be almost packed and ready to pitch your tents!
We are immensely grateful to the agencies at Stirling Council and the Scottish Government for their support in trying to get Doune the Rabbit Hole Festival to take place this year. Everyone is with the best of intentions trying to fulfil public health responsibilities in very difficult circumstances.
This is a great blow to our Doune the Rabbit Hole community, which of course includes our festival-goers. The eleventh Doune the Rabbit Hole will now take place 14 to 17 July 2022. We already have some great acts inked in for next year, plus many of this year’s acts have agreed to roll over. Our first line-up announcement will be coming soon.
Now for the hard ask. Doune the Rabbit Hole is a family-run, family-friendly community festival. The festival’s owners have never taken a single penny of profit from it – indeed it has never made a profit, and they continue to put money in. Long term customers know that we avoid rip-offs and do not charge commercial festival level food and bar prices. We now need your support.
It is a big ask, but the fact that over 85% of our 2020 ticket-holders rolled over their tickets enabled the festival to financially survive the effects of cancellation and to plan again for 2021. The loyalty and trust that you showed was very touching.
We now have to ask you to roll over tickets again, to 2022, to ensure that the festival continues. All ticket types will be respected again in 2022 – and the age of your child at the time of your original ticket purchase will be considered their age for the ’22 event to allow them access to the same ticket despite being a little older.
Ticket-holders will be contacted about their options, please check the inbox (and spam folder!) of the email address you registered with us when you purchased your ticket for more information.
Once again, we are so sorry to bring you the sad news that this year’s Doune The Rabbit Hole Festival will no longer be going ahead, spoiling so many plans for the summer, but we firmly believe that Doune The Rabbit Hole 2022 will prove to be our best festival yet and we hope to see you there!
Doune The Rabbit Hole Team
