The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of the Rockin’ River Music Fest in Merritt for the second-straight year.

Speaking on NL Newsday, festival president, Kenny Hess says its disappointing they’ve had to pull the plug on the largest summer event in the Nicola Valley once again.

“Of course its disappointing because you take a look at how much fun everybody had at the festival,” he said. “We enjoy doing the show and I know both as an artist and as a promoter, I look forward to it every year. To have to cancel is hugely disappointing.”

Back in March, Hess told NL News that the odds of the festival happening this year were ‘pretty slim’ because of COVID-19 restrictions. That said, he noted, organizers were holding out hope that this year’s edition would have been able to go ahead, in some capacity.

“We work non-stop making decisions trying different things. Of course, any government factors, they play heavily into that,” Hess added. “Its a lot of work that goes for naught, but at the same time, we don’t mind because we want to make sure that 2022 is going to be as big as we can make it.”

Keith Urban was supposed to be the headline act last summer, and Hess previously said he was hoping that Urban would be available again in 2022. Organizers will be announcing a “brand new lineup” later this fall, thought its not clear if Keith Urban will be back.

“Its going to be either a female or a male country artist [that will headline]. It will be human,” joked Hess when asked to tease what might be announced later this year.

“We are working hard to make it one of the biggest years yet to make sure that we earn back our customer base and our fan base and have all of our friends come and join us.”

The 2022 edition of the Rockin’ River Music Fest is scheduled to take place from July 28 to July 31, 2022. All tickets and campsites bought in 2020 will still be honoured, though people will be contacted again and offered a refund, like they were last year.

“For anyone who would like a refund, you will get an email from Front Gate later this week with your option,” a facebook post from the organizers said, referencing the event’s online ticket service provider. “The refund window will be available for 14 days after you receive the email.”

This year’s festival was to take place from July 29 to August 1.