Harrogate International Festivals’ Summer Season cancelled due to coronavirus crisis
But last night the organisers of the not-for-profit festival announced “with deep regret and sadness” that this year’s season – including the Harrogate Music Festival, Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, and Children’s Festival – had been cancelled.
The crime writing festival alone – which takes place at the town’s Old Swan Hotel, a favourite former haunt of crime queen Agatha Christie – is one of the biggest and most famous in the world.
“This difficult decision was made after carefully assessing several factors, but most importantly the health and safety of everyone involved: our audience, artists, suppliers, partners, volunteers, staff and the wider community,” they said.
“Many months of dedicated work went into planning this exceptional season and we share in the disappointment that will be felt by the many writers, musicians, thinkers, performers and festival-goers who were set to join us in Harrogate.”
There is some good news for crime fiction fans, however. The prestigious Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2020, supported by the Daily Express and WH Smith, will still take place.
Judging will be done digitally with the crime novel of the year unveiled in late July. Previous winners have included Mark Billingham, Val McDermid, Lee Child and Stav Sherez.
And the world-class line-up of talent due to appear this summer – including US Harry Bosch author Michael Connolly, and British stars Martina Cole, Mark Billingham and Mick Herron – will be rescheduled for the 2021 festival.
Best-selling Inspector Rebus author Ian Rankin, commissioning chairman of this year’s event, will remain in the hot seat for 2021.
He said: “I’m devastated this year’s Harrogate can’t happen. Devastated for everyone who’s worked so hard to put together the programme. Devastated for all the authors and readers for whom the festival is so very special. If Covid ends up stabbed, poisoned or bludgeoned there will be no shortage of suspects. But…2021 will be all the more special. Everyone involved will make it so – that’s a promise. See you then.”
Harrogate is not the only festival season to have fallen victim to the coronavirus lockdown. It was announced last week that the Edinburgh Fringe, the world’s biggest arts festival, will not take place for the first time in more than 70 years. It has been cancelled along with the Edinburgh International Festival, The Military Tattoo, Edinburgh Art Festival and Edinburgh International Book Festival. The five events attract audiences of about 4.4 million people to the city each August.
Harrogate International Festivals will also be launching a virtual festival experience for fans to enjoy at home via a free online hub of archive event recordings, digital book clubs, learning resources for children and activities for little ones. It will be regularly updated with new content to keep audiences entertained.
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