Los Dells has officially announced that it will not be hosting a festival this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While a date for what would have been the fourth edition of Los Dells in Wisconsin had yet to be announced — it is typically held during the Labor Day weekend — the update was made today (July 8) on social media with a statement that reads. “Following direction of government and health officials, as the situation continues to evolve, we have concluded that we cannot move forward with our event this year.”
Adding, “we are proud to take part in helping to elevate and facilitate Latin music in the U.S. We want to celebrate with you and we want to do it responsibly. We are now looking to 2021 for our next opportunity to do so. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy, and let’s do our part to support one another.”
In a recent interview with Billboard, Damon Rey, who along with his father kicked off Wisconsin’s Los Dells in 2017 featuring artists like Bad Bunny, Ximena Sariñana, Cuco and Banda MS, said he was hopeful that the festival could take place. “We’ve been watching, waiting and hoping things improve, but there is a real possibility that we won’t be having festivals this year. No one is in control of the situation,” he said back in June.
The indie Latinx-focused fest joins Coachella and Lollapalooza who officially cancelled their 2020 edition as the U.S. sees a spike of coronavirus cases.
To date, the U.S. coronavirus death toll has surpassed 128,000 with more than 3 million COVID-19 cases confirmed forcing states like California and Florida to close previously re-opened businesses like restaurants and bars.
When asked what type of impact a cancellation could have on Los Dells, Rey said. “It’ll be disappointing because our festival is in a growth stage. We’ll pick up where we can rebuild the momentum. It’ll take time, but fans have shown us that they want Latin festivals and they’re anxious for them.”
