The 31st annual Michael Arnone Crawfish Fest will not take place in 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
"With your support, we will make it thru the pandemic to the other side," Arnone writes in an official statement. "The Krewe and I will miss your smiles, hugs and handshakes."
The event has been moved to May 21-23, 2021 at its usual home at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ.
The festival previously moved from its initial dates to new dates (Aug. 21-23) and, as of June, Arnone was hopeful that the event would happen, even giving fans an updated lineup to reflect artist cancellations.
For more information, head to Crawfishfest.com.
Read his full message below:
Hi y'all,
I was really optimistic until about 2 weeks ago.
New Jersey just added Louisiana to their quarantine list and the entire South is seeing more cases. I am not sure that staff, vendors, Artists or I will even be able to enter NJ coming from LA..
Currently outdoor mass gatherings of 500 are allowed in NJ. I just can't see NJ allowing a medium size music and food festival such as ours in 7 weeks.
It hurts to have to postpone until 2021.
I have reached out to the agents. I have just about the entire initial lineup re-re-confirmed. I will announce the schedule in the next week or so. I think you will be pleased.
Tickets already purchased will be changed to May 21-23, 2021 in the system. The barcode will remain the same. The website will be updated in the next week when the last 3 confirms are in.
We had a calendar issue and next year we will be one week before Memorial Day weekend. May 21-23, 2021. Please book your hotel as soon as you can.
Holiday Inn Express in Newton has a block, ask for the CFF rate. The Econo Lodge in Andover is wide open. I requested a block from the Holiday Inn Budd Lake, I am waiting to hear from them.
I would be extremely grateful if you can retain your ticket for 2021. I am struggling like everyone else in the music business. I know a lot of you are too, as i saw over a million people lost jobs in NJ.
With your support, we will make it thru the pandemic to the other side.
The Krewe and I will miss your smiles, hugs and handshakes.
Our number one rule has always been. "no one gets hurt"!
Be well until we see you in less than 11 months.
Michael
