The Newtown Festival we know and love cannot take place in 2022

After a lot of planning and consulting, we’re sad to let you know that the Newtown Festival we know and love cannot take place in 2022. This has not been an easy decision for us, but the safety and wellbeing of everyone is our first priority in these COVID times.

The COVID Safety Framework (aka the ‘traffic lights’) says that festivals can go ahead if all the participants and attendees are vaccinated and have certificates. This works when the event is in a venue and the certificates can be checked, but it doesn’t work for a big event in a public street with multiple entrance points. It is logistically impossible to check vaccination certificates for thousands of stallholders, performers, crew and volunteers for a public event with multiple entry points, and we can’t stop people walking through the Festival site to access essential services as well as their own homes.

We have been blessed with 25 years of awesome Newtown Festivals, and we’re planning to keep the spirit of Newtown Festival alive during 2022 as we focus on bringing you a spectacular event in 2023.

Meri Kirihimete, Happy New Year, and watch this space !