Two festivals due to take place in Basingstoke this summer have been cancelled following the Covid-19 outbreak.

Basingstoke Festival was due to take place between June 26 and July 12, including B LOVE Festival, with a variety of top artists, performers and musicians already announced.

This also includes the popular Pictures in the Park event, which was due to screen four hit films on Thursday, July 9, and Friday, July 10, in War Memorial Park.

Following the government’s latest advice around social distancing for the foreseeable future, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has taken the decision to cancel these events.

A spokesman said anyone who has purchased a ticket for the Pictures in the Park event and B LOVE Festival will automatically receive a full refund from Ticketsource. The ticket company is aiming to complete all refunds within 10 working days and will contact customers directly via email if they cannot process their refunds.

For those who have purchased a ticket and have a query about their refund following the 10 working day period, they should contact TicketSource directly at support@ticketsource.co.uk.

The borough council is currently looking at the potential to hold a series of outdoor arts events with artists booked for Basingstoke Festival later this year and can confirm that headliners Shy FX, The Pigeon Detectives, Artful Dodger and N-Trance have already agreed to perform at B LOVE Festival in 2021. The borough council will continue to work with suppliers and the B LOVE Music Forum to plan for the 2021 event.

Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Partnerships Cllr Simon Bound said: “In light of the government’s latest guidance around Covid-19, we have taken the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Basingstoke Festival and the B LOVE Festival. We were looking forward to welcoming people to these events, with a number of exciting acts already confirmed, but ultimately the safety of our residents and visitors must come first. When the time is right we will look at the possibility of rescheduling some festival performances later this year and we look forward to welcoming everybody back to these successful and well-attended events next year.”

“Anyone who has purchased event tickets will automatically receive a full refund but please allow additional time for this to be processed.”

Basingstoke Festival is a partner in Without Walls, working with festivals and artists and bringing fantastic outdoor arts to people in towns and cities across the UK.