(HUGHESVILLE, PA) – After much intense deliberation the Billtown Blues Association’s Board of Directors has come to the extremely difficult decision to cancel the 31st Annual Billtown Blues Festival slated for June 12th, 13th, & 14th, 2020 at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville, Pennsylvania.  

The early June time frame for the Festival presents a large “unknown” risk to all involved both in terms of health, safety, and economic recovery. “So many people are in limbo,” says Bonnie Tallman, Executive Director of the BBA. “Especially the hired artists who when coming to our festival often “route-in” connecting performances with other venues on the way to and from Hughesville. Ultimately, we felt we needed to take the most conservative approach for our artists, volunteers, and most importantly our attendees, considering no one knows how this situation will shape up in the weeks or months ahead.” 

The Festival has already been rescheduled for June 11th, 12th, & 13th, 2021 at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville, PA. Plans are currently underway to reschedule the complete 2020 lineup.  

“Last year was a major turning point for us with the 3-day music expansion and the camping option, says Jared Mondell, Vice President of the BBA’s Board of Directors. “We turned the corner financially after being flat for the past few years. Our ticket sales records indicated patrons from 41 PA counties and 14 states. We want to hang on to that momentum as we plan.” Those that have purchased tickets to the 2020 festival will be contacted via email with refund instructions.

The BBA is keeping a very open mind about the future, including rescheduling the already canceled Audition Concert, as well as producing other special events between now and the Blues Festival in 2021 as the current crisis wanes and safety measures indicate they can proceed.  

For specific questions, the BBA can be contacted via a contact form on their website.