Des Moines cancels 80/35 Music Festival
In response to COVID-19’s disruption of organizing and putting on the festival, the Des Moines Music Coalition announced it would cancel the 2020 80/35 Music Festival this summer.
Sidewalk Chalk performs at the Kum and Go stage during the 2019 80/35 Festival in downtown Des Moines on Saturday, July 13, 2019.
March 30, 2020
The 2020 80/35 Music Festival at Western Gateway Park in Des Moines has been canceled due to the spread of COVID-19.
80/35 was scheduled for July 10 and 11. The 2020 lineup had yet to be announced.
According to a statement posted on the 80/35 website on Monday afternoon, “It’s with a sad song in our hearts to inform you, our friends, volunteers, artists and passionate music fans, that we have decided to cancel the 13th annual 80/35 festival originally scheduled for July 10 & 11.”
The statement said that because the Des Moines Music Coalition is a nonprofit organization that relies on ticket sales, volunteers, community grants, and corporate sponsorships, the COVID-19 pandemic made them unable to put on the festival in a manner that would ensure its success in the future.
“A future without 80/35 was something we couldn’t risk,” the statement said.
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The coalition’s plans will now focus on planning the 2021 80/35 Music Festival and finding ways to support artists and venues, including hosting virtual concerts and online music educational programming.
80/35’s 2020 cancellation comes after the cancellation of the Mission Creek Festival, organized annually by Englert Theatre. The status of Iowa’s other large-scale summer music festival, the Hinterland Music Festival, has yet to be announced.