Picture of Rockin' River Festival in Merritt from 2019/via Rockin' River
A mainstay for country music fans in the Southern Interior will not be taking place this year.
The organizers behind the Rockin’ River Music Festival in Merritt have announced they will not be putting on a show this year.
“We’ve had the pleasure and honour of producing Rockin’ River Music Fest – bringing country music’s biggest acts to Merritt and creating countless musical memories along the way,” said the organizers in a statement online.
“Over time, we have been met with a series of obstacles that we tried our best to overcome, but in the end, we have made the decision not to move forward with the festival in 2023.”
Statement by organizers of Rockin’ River Festival in Merritt/via Rockin’ River
Rockin’ River has been considered a tent-pole for the outdoor music festival scene in British Columbia, bringing in A-List talent and providing a major boost to the local economy.
At this point, organizers have not provided any details as to the “obstacles” it has been facing.
It’s also not clear if this is a one-time decision for 2023, or whether the festival will be shut down permanently.
“We want to thank the City of Merritt who has always welcomed us with open arms, the incredible artists, staff and most importantly – you, the fans. Many of whom have been loyal since year one,” said the organizers in their statement.
“We hope to see you again soon!”
The Rockin’ River Festival normally runs over the course of four days in Merritt over the August long-weekend.
In 2018, it attracted around 8,000 people who stayed in the community for the full four days, pumping in tens-of-thousands of dollars into the local economy.
It returned last summer after having been cancelled the previous two years due to the pandemic.
