Imagine Music Festival is canceled for 2020. Even before the organizers made the announcement, though, the three-day event stood on shaky ground, according to one local official.
Asked if the city planned to impose restrictions on Imagine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chattahoochee Hills Mayor Tom Reed said, “They are not yet permitted. They are in the process.”
Reed’s comments came a week prior to the festival’s formal statement.
“As a community, and with the support of the City of Atlanta, City of Chattahoochee Hills and Bouckaert Farm, we have reached a decision to postpone Imagine Festival 2020 to September 17, 18, 19, 2021,” the festival posted on their Facebook page Tuesday night.
The Chattahoochee Hills City Council authorized Mayor Reed to sign a contract with Imagine on March 10.
Eight days later, Imagine proclaimed they had their permit. Festival founders Glenn and Madeleine Goodhand said then that they expected 25,000 attendees per day at the old Tomorrowworld venue.
Coronavirus fears force Imagine to re-consider
Still, the Goodhands were under immense pressure to cancel or postpone Imagine 2020.
COVID-19’s resurgence across the United States left people wondering about the safety of future festivals.
Movement and Austin City Limits both halted their shows due to the increase in coronavirus cases. Even in Atlanta, popular events like Music Midtown, held the same weekend as Imagine, shut its doors. The Goodhands stood their ground though.
“We are scheduled as planned and are working very closely with local and federal officials on professional guidelines to keep everyone safe,” the festival said on social media two weeks ago. “Imagine is scheduled and planning is moving forward. We will open unless there is an order disallowing us to do so.”
Now, attention turns to 2021.
“Your 2020 Festival passes will automatically be transferred to the new Imagine 2021 dates,” organizers said in a statement. “Guests who would like a full refund will have until July 19, 2020 to submit their request.”