Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said while she was disappointed for music fans at the cancellation of CMC Rocks 2021, there were more than 220 events across Ipswich annually and plenty for visitors to the region to enjoy.
“One of the beauties of coming to Ipswich is that we have so much to offer, a varied line-up of events that will interest a wide audience,” Mayor Harding said.
“We have music, sport, food and entertainment on the list and there will definitely be something there to please people.
“Ipswich attracts more than two million visitors a year so we are keen to host events that will encourage and excite everyone.”
It will start this weekend when stage two of the Nicholas Street Precinct comes alive, with the official opening of Tulmur Place, the city’s new civic plaza, the Handmade Expo Markets and the “turning on” of the precinct’s water play zone. It’s the first of many special event days planned for the new Tulmur Place, with 27 reasons to visit between 28 November and 20 December 2020, with an exciting events calendar being planned for 2021.
Mayor Harding highlighted some of the main council or council-supported events scheduled for Ipswich in 2021, including:
February – Earth Frequency Festival – Ivory’s Rock
March – Ipswich 100 – Ipswich and surrounds
May – Planes, Trains and Automobiles – The Workshops Rail Museum
May – The Gathering – Ipswich Turf Club
May – White Rock Trail Festival – White Rock
June – Festival of Horsepower – Ipswich Turf Club and Motorsport Precinct
July – SPARK Ipswich (the reimagined Ipswich Festival) – citywide
August – Story Arts Festival – citywide
Aug/Sep – Galvanized – A Festival of Heritage – citywide
September – 99 Bikes Cycle and Trail Run Epic – Hiddenvale Adventure Park
October – Goodna Jacaranda Festival – Goodna
December – Christmas in Ipswich – citywide
Mayor Harding said she was hopeful of CMC Rocks returning to Ipswich in 2022.
“This is a world-class event held in our region and we understand everyone’s frustration and disappointment,” she said.
“Council’s events team have been liaising with event promoters for several weeks and examined many options for it to proceed, including changing the date and a hybrid event however the event promoters have made the difficult decision not to proceed.
“These are still unprecedented and challenging times with COVID-19 and the ongoing impact of the global pandemic is being felt in every corner of the world.”
Mayor Harding said organisers had expressed reluctance to proceed without an international headline act. CMC Rocks regularly attracts a dozen or more worldwide stars of the country music scene.
And there were still very real concerns about COVID-19 restrictions in Australia and abroad, making it hard for interstate and international travellers to visit Ipswich for the festival.
“I am personally disappointed that CMC Rocks is off for another year. But we look forward to supporting and being fully behind them in 2022,” she said.
“There is no doubt that CMC Rocks brings great social, economic and cultural benefits to our region and we are definitely missing out with it being cancelled for 2021. That is disappointing on so many levels, but we are hopeful the event will go ahead in 2022 and bring the best back to Ipswich.”
CMC Rocks 2020 was cancelled in March this year as the State and Federal Governments came to grips with the first wave of the coronavirus emergency.
It came as a bitter blow to music fans, artists, suppliers, staff and the Ipswich community. There were genuine concerns about the ability to stage an event in 2021 and a decision was made this week to pull the plug.
Mayor Harding urged fans to be patient and sympathised with organisers.
“This is tough on everyone. We have had to endure some tough times this year and everyone has had to make some tough decisions. But I think our community understands and will look forward to the next CMC Rocks with even greater enthusiasm,” she said.
For more information on major events and festivals in the region, go to https://www.ipswichfestivals.com.au/
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