Rock the Boat's Friday shows cancelled but COVID-conscious festival resumes Saturday

Two kilometres of steel barricades and snow fence will help keep music fans safely distanced, as P.E.I. hosts an ambitious three-day rock concert starting Friday.

Uh... make that an ambitious TWO-day rock festival.

Heavy rain led Rock the Boatorganizers to cancel Friday night events at the last minute, posting:"It is always our best interest to ensure the safety of our concertgoers as well as the acts on stage.Recharge tonight because we will be making up for lost time tomorrow!"

The festival is set to handle up to 2,000 visitors daily at Green Park Provincial Park, near Tyne Valley.

But unlike outdoor festivals in the freewheeling days before COVID, fans at Rock the Boat '21 will be corralled by all thatfencing into cohorts of 200.

"There's definitely some pressure," said organizer Adam MacLennan, as the community of Tyne Valley laysout the welcome mat, after cancelling the eventlast year. "I think that's the one thing that people will saywhen they get here, is 'look at all that fence.'"

Organizers are working with provincial health officials as they prepare for what MacLennan calls the "first large showin Atlantic Canada" since the pandemic hit.

Each of the 10 fenced cohorts will have its own entry and exit points, washrooms and hand-wash stations.

People buying tickets are asked to provide information for contact tracing if there's an outbreak.Performers from the mainland were arriving early, to get tested if necessaryand to isolate in hotel rooms as needed.

VIP seating sold out

"We're doing everything that we can on the guidance of the public health office to hopefully alleviate any cause for concern," MacLennan told CBC News.

This year's musical lineup includes The Recklaws, The Trews, Jess Moskaluke,The East Pointers, and more.The venue's three VIP seating areas are now sold out. Ticket sales to visitors from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are picking up speed, accordingto MacLennan. Those off-Island concertgoers are being advised to get a PEI Pass from provincial health authorities before they cross the Strait.

Face masks, as per provincial guidelines, are optional.

"People are encouraged to wear masks," said MacLennan. "If they choose not to wear masks, that's OK as well."

Shuttle service to the concert site is operating once again, from Charlottetown and Summerside. Overnight camping is available inthe provincial park but for health purposes, park staff are putting a cap on numbers; no more than four people per site.

Onthe concert grounds, some mixing of cohorts will take place in the food and merchandise sales areas.

Rock the Boat isn't the only big event in western P.E.I. that will test COVIDmanagement plans this summer.The Tyne Valley Oyster Festivalis coming up in a couple of weeks.

Rock the Boat's COVID plan and its results will be shared with other concert and event organizers, on P.E.I. and across Atlantic Canada.

"There's a lot of eyes on this festival," said MacLennan."It's exciting to see everything coming together."

Proceeds from Rock the Boatsupportthe local arena. Itburned down a few years ago and was recently re-built.

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