Despite the prospect of restrictions lifting later this year, the Illawarra Folk Club has regretfully cancelled the 2022 Illawarra Folk Festival scheduled for January 13-16 at Bulli Showground because of COVID-19 concerns.

“It is just too hard in the current COVID-19 climate for a non-profit association to take the risk on a festival of the scale of the Illawarra Folk Festival,” says Festival Artistic Director David De Santi.

If the club is able to secure a grant with the Federal Government's RISE Fund, there is a small chance that the festival could be rescheduled for later in 2022.

“That is a small glimmer of hope,” says Mr De Santi.

“If somehow we were able to get the funding we might try and reschedule to later in the year - maybe May.

“However, if that doesn't work, then we will be working hard to be back in 2023 from 19-22 January. We also hope that we will be able to put on our second smaller festival, Folk By The Sea in Kiama, from 24-26 September, 2022.”

The club cancelled the last January's 2021 festival and Folk By The Sea due to COVID.

Mr De Santi paid tribute to the club’s many volunteers who have kept the Illawarra Folk Festival alive for 35 years, and vowed to bring the festival back as soon as possible.