The Whitney Blackfly Festival is on hiatus. We started the event in 2016 by singing our hearts out on the side of Highway 60 as costumed blackflies, and the festival grew to a level where we had sponsors, a staff, professional sound engineering, and incredible live talent. We know we're disappointing a lot of people who were looking forward to this annual tradition. It will return, the blackflies will be back. Festivals of all kinds typically go dormant or "fallow" for a brief period so that they can continue in the long term. It takes an enormous amount of resources and energy to operate a festival. The economy is a big question mark right now, and our staffing situation is also different. After careful thought, now is the time for a pause.
With or without Blackfly Festival, we will continue marching to the beat of our own drums. We started the festival before we had a tavern. It was our way to create excitement in the community, to draw business, celebrate the arts, and lift morale during a time of year when most people grumble about the bugs. Now we have a village tavern that allows us to play music three nights a week and provide a warm place for folks to hang out. Although the tavern experience isn't on the epic scale of a festival, the spirit of Blackfly continues at Bongopix. From the bottom of our hearts we thank ALL of our supporters, it would not be possible without you!!! We love you all. Give us a couple years and I'm sure we'll return with an even better iteration of the Blackfly Festival in the future. Now, if only the actual Blackflies would take a break too!
Peace and love,
Bongo & Andrea
