Blaze Forces Cancellation of Chinook Fest for Second Straight Season

First COVID-19 and now the Schneider Springs wildfire. Pick your calamity but, either way, the annual Chinook Fest weekend concert at Jim Sprick Community Park has been forced to cancel for the second consecutive year.

In a statement sent to us from festival Vice President and Director, Michelle VandenBrink stated the following:

"To say we are grateful for our Chinook Fest Family would be an understatement. You guys have supported us for nearly ten years, and have continued to put your faith in us even as the world around us has been uncertain and unsteady.

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As many of you know, much of our Nile Valley community is currently at Level 3 evacuation due to the Schneider Springs Fire. At the time of this message, the fire has burned over 31,000 acres and is 0% contained. The Chinook Fest grounds are adjacent to the Nile-Cliffdell Fire Department, and at present the land we use for RV camping is being used to stage fire equipment and vehicles actively fighting the nearby fire.

It has become clear to us over the last week that we can’t, in good conscience, move forward with Chinook Fest 2021 in three weeks. This is a time we need to focus on supporting our community, doing what we can to take care of our neighbors, and leaving the Hwy 410 corridor open and accessible for the nearly 500 firefighters to continue their work unencumbered. This is not the time to continue planning a gathering of nearly 2,000 people in a park so close to a growing and unpredictable wildfire. Our hope is that the fire is out much sooner than the festival weekend, but the reality seems to be that activity will continue in the area until sometime in October.

Please be patient as we use this time to focus on our families and community affected by the fire. Chinook Fest will be rescheduled to June 10-12, 2022 and will remain in June for the coming years in order to better ensure the safety of our Chinook Fest Family and community. All current ticket holders can expect to hear from our team once our community is taken care of and safe."

Please keep our community members, their homes and businesses, and the brave firefighters in your thoughts and prayers, and please stay safe.

When is the 2021 Chinook Fest going to be now?

Organizers have rescheduled this year's festival to June 10-12, 2022. Tickets already sold will still be honored.

So, for another year, we will just have to remember the good times that have been had over the last decade. See you all next June (fingers crossed) Chinook Fest family!