A music festival organized by the English band The XX, which was to take place by Skógafoss waterfall in South Iceland has been cancelled. The festival, which was titled Night+Day was to take place in July. All sold tickets will be refunded.
Locals had repeatedly questioned the plans for a festival
The reason the festival has been cancelled is the critical condition of the environment around the waterfall. The Icelandic Environmental Agency recently moved Skógafoss to its Red List of sites in critical condition due to the stress caused by growing tourism. Walking paths at the waterfall were not built to accommodate thousands of visitors daily, turning the paths and surrounding vegetation into mudflats.
Read more: Skógafoss waterfall listed under threat due to rapidly growing tourism
Locals and the municipal authority at Skógar, where the waterfall is located, had raised serious concerns that the area, including the campgrounds and other public facilities, would not be able to handle a music festival. When the organizers were denied permission to use the public campground due to these concerns, they moved the festival to a private property next to the waterfall.
Read more: Proposed music festival at Skógafoss waterfall meets stiff resistance from locals
According to a statement from the organizers of the festival the decision to cancel the festival was based on the Environment Agency sounding its warning bells. The organizers attempted to find a new location for the festival, but were unable to secure a new location with this short notice.
A music festival organized by the English band The XX, which was to take place by Skógafoss waterfall in South Iceland has been cancelled. The festival, which was titled Night+Day was to take place in July. All sold tickets will be refunded.
Locals had repeatedly questioned the plans for a festival
The reason the festival has been cancelled is the critical condition of the environment around the waterfall. The Icelandic Environmental Agency recently moved Skógafoss to its Red List of sites in critical condition due to the stress caused by growing tourism. Walking paths at the waterfall were not built to accommodate thousands of visitors daily, turning the paths and surrounding vegetation into mudflats.
Read more: Skógafoss waterfall listed under threat due to rapidly growing tourism
Locals and the municipal authority at Skógar, where the waterfall is located, had raised serious concerns that the area, including the campgrounds and other public facilities, would not be able to handle a music festival. When the organizers were denied permission to use the public campground due to these concerns, they moved the festival to a private property next to the waterfall.
Read more: Proposed music festival at Skógafoss waterfall meets stiff resistance from locals
According to a statement from the organizers of the festival the decision to cancel the festival was based on the Environment Agency sounding its warning bells. The organizers attempted to find a new location for the festival, but were unable to secure a new location with this short notice.
