Organizers behind British Columbia's EDM-geared Shambhala Music Festival have issued a "pre-evacuation alert" ahead of the event's start date due to wildfires in the area.
The festival, slated to kick off its 20th edition tomorrow (August 11) near Salmo, BC, shared the notice Wednesday evening (August 9) through its website. "In the interest of public safety, we would like to inform our guests and the public, that there is an evacuation alert near the festival grounds," the statement reads. "We are currently communicating with local government to stay ahead of the situation."
The statement outlines that the nearby alert "does not currently affect the festival," though "all guests should be prepared for changing conditions." Those in attendance are asked to talk with friends about the possibility of an early departure and to have "a well-rested designated driver."
UPDATE (8/12, 7:15 p.m. EDT): Festival organizers have issued an early closure notice. Regularly scheduled Saturday programming will go ahead this evening (August 12), but attendees are being asked to vacate the site tonight. The event was originally expected to run until August 14.
Find full details of the closure notice via the festival's Facebook page below, and follow Shambhala on social media for further updates.
The BC Wildfire Service said Wednesday that it was fighting a new 75 hectare fire in the McCormick Creek area, which is about 20 kilometres southwest of Salmo and south of the Salmo River. An evacuation alert was issued on Wednesday by the Regional District of the Central Kootenay for an area southwest of the festival site.
Those attending Shambhala can monitor further updates on the situation through the festival's official website, mobile app and social media channels. The festival is set to run from August 11 to August 14 with performances from A-Trak, Z-Trip, AraabMuzik and more.
Find the festival's full statement below.
The festival, slated to kick off its 20th edition tomorrow (August 11) near Salmo, BC, shared the notice Wednesday evening (August 9) through its website. "In the interest of public safety, we would like to inform our guests and the public, that there is an evacuation alert near the festival grounds," the statement reads. "We are currently communicating with local government to stay ahead of the situation."
The statement outlines that the nearby alert "does not currently affect the festival," though "all guests should be prepared for changing conditions." Those in attendance are asked to talk with friends about the possibility of an early departure and to have "a well-rested designated driver."
UPDATE (8/12, 7:15 p.m. EDT): Festival organizers have issued an early closure notice. Regularly scheduled Saturday programming will go ahead this evening (August 12), but attendees are being asked to vacate the site tonight. The event was originally expected to run until August 14.
Find full details of the closure notice via the festival's Facebook page below, and follow Shambhala on social media for further updates.
The BC Wildfire Service said Wednesday that it was fighting a new 75 hectare fire in the McCormick Creek area, which is about 20 kilometres southwest of Salmo and south of the Salmo River. An evacuation alert was issued on Wednesday by the Regional District of the Central Kootenay for an area southwest of the festival site.
Those attending Shambhala can monitor further updates on the situation through the festival's official website, mobile app and social media channels. The festival is set to run from August 11 to August 14 with performances from A-Trak, Z-Trip, AraabMuzik and more.
Find the festival's full statement below.