JOYCE – Joyce Daze 2020 is cancelled, it was announced Friday.
Organizers say they were forced to make the decision to cancel this year’s Wild Blackberry Festival, scheduled for August 1, because they have no idea what restrictions will be in place come August regarding the holding of large gatherings.
In a statement, they say their main concern is for the safety of the Joyce community as people travel from far away to join in the festival, and potentially transmit COVID-19 to the area. The committee also took into account the cost of running a festival that may not bring in enough money to pay for itself. They say they’ve already spent more than $1000 to purchase buttons and T-shirts.
To recoup those expenses, they will be selling the 2020 T-shirts with the word “CANCELLED” reprinted over the design as a collector’s item.
They’re also hoping to raise funds by holding a pre-ordered pie sale, sometime in the Fall, to make sure a freezer-full of berries don’t go to waste.
Stay tuned for announcements about those two sales.