The Canowindra International Balloon Challenge committee says it's full steam ahead with planning for the 2021 event despite growing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Following the committee's annual general meeting, festival president Andrew Pull said everyone was keen to plan and prepare for next year's event despite some concerns COVID-19 will impact events across the region well into 2021 as well.
"We did note that, with COVID, we may not be able to go next year but we decided, not just as a board but everyone in the room, that we would attack the plan for next year with a positive attitude," he said.
"If things change with COVID, then we will have to deal with it."
Mr Pull said the board, consisting of himself, Sarah Cummings, Kim Roberts, Jaymee Crowe, Annette Thomas, Adam Barrow and Jack Traves, was also still planning on holding activities and events during the week leading up to the Balloon Glow.
"We discussed the plans for the week about involving the whole town and community, not just the balloon festival on the weekend. It was pretty fulfilling," he said.
"The draft plan at the moment is the street festival or a shopping night, looking at maybe the FlickerFest on the Friday and the balloons glow on the Saturday.
We're trying to get everybody down town and make it about the town, not just the balloons.
- Canowindra International Balloon Challenge president Andrew Pull
"We're trying to get everybody down town and make it about the town, not just the balloons."
The board were also looking at aspects of the event such as entertainment.
"We are still undecided. Will we just go for the local entertainers? Or whether we can get a grant and bring somebody major to the event, we will be pursuing that as the weeks and months progress," Mr Pull said.
Mr Pull added the financial issues the festival has encountered in last 12 months have been resolved.
"We finished with a positive bank balance even though we didn't run an event, just through grants and money we've been able to hold on to to start next year's event," he said.
"The main thing was we've committed to attacking the event with a positive attitude and we'll challenge COVID as the updates come in."
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