After a thirteen year run, Wanee Music Festival has officially canceled their 2019 event at The Spirit Of The Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida. In the official announcement, festival organizers detail that the event will not return to its original location because of the fact that the traditional weekend “falls on the same weekend as Good Friday, Easter, and Passover.”

Perhaps the timing of the religious holidays has had negative impacts on the festival in the past, but it’s a suspicious reason to not move forward with the event to another weekend. The festival update closes by asking fans to stay tuned for “future announcements,” so there may still be hope for the beloved event’s continuation.

The official update reads:

THE TRADITIONAL WEEKEND FOR THE WANEE MUSIC FESTIVAL IN 2019 FALLS ON THE SAME WEEKEND AS GOOD FRIDAY, EASTER AND PASSOVER.

IT HAS BEEN THE WANEE FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST THAT MANY OF OUR REGULAR FESTIVAL GOERS DECIDE NOT TO ATTEND ON THIS WEEKEND, DUE TO THE HOLIDAY BEING ONE THAT MANY CHOOSE TO SPEND WITH THEIR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND RELIGIOUS FAITH.

FOR THIS REASON, THE WANEE MUSIC FESTIVAL WILL NOT TAKE PLACE IN 2019
AT THE SPIRIT OF THE SUWANEE MUSIC PARK.

PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE WANEE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

The Wanee Music Festival began in 2005 and returned to The Spirit Of The Suwannee Music Park every spring since. It was founded by the Allman Brothers Band, who headlined the peach and mushroom-inspired event every year until the band called it quits in 2014. After that, the festival continued in the Allman Brothers’ honor, with headlining performances from Widespread Panic, Bob Weir, Gregg Allman, and Trey Anastasio Band.

While family and friends of the Allman Brothers Band continued to appear on the lineups after 2014, the festival never truly felt the same after the deaths of founding members Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks. Without the Allman Brothers Band, the festival was only left with the Spirit of the Suwannee. This news has brought a wave of sadness to the community that has consistently attended the festival over the last 12 years. However, there’s still a glimmer of hope for the future at another destination.