The organisers of the UK's largest family festival, Big Feastival, have announced that the annual summer event has been cancelled in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Held at Alex James' farm near Kingham in the Cotswolds, the popular three-day music and food festival usually takes place on the August bank holiday weekend, attracting more than 65,000 people each year.
This summer would have marked the festival's ninth year.
In an official statement released on social media, Big Feastival organisers wrote: "Dear Feastival Fam, after a lot of hard work, sweat and today a few tears, it is with a heavy heart that we have to confirm the cancellation of The Big Feastival 2020.
"The festival has always been about uniting friends and family in a fun, safe and secure environment, to celebrate the final days of the summer. However, for the reasons you already know, we just can’t see a way to do that this year without sacrificing the very thing that makes The Big Feastival so special.
"We know how many of you were hoping we could find a way to continue and we are devastated we won’t be able to create some much-needed happy memories on The Farm this year. We are also truly sorry for any concern we have caused you whilst we explored all options before coming to this decision and thank you for your patience."
The post went on to confirm: "We will be back, and 27 – 29 August 2021 is going to be one truly unforgettable weekend!"
Headliners Sigala, Rag'n'Bone Man, Nile Rogers and CHIC are confirmed artists for next year's event, while the statement also said ticket holders would be contacted by Ticketmaster over the next few days, offering the option of either transferring tickets to next year's event, or getting a full refund.
The team ended the statement by thanking customers for "continued patience and supportive messages".
For full details, you can head to the Big Feastival's official FAQ page here.
