32nd annual event rescheduled for June 18-20, 2021

KCBX management has announced that its public radio station’s major fundraiser, the Live Oak Music Festival, will not take place this June. Concern for the health and safety of the community and uncertainty about the current pandemic situation precipitated the decision.

“We’ve been agonizing over how to go forward as we watch the ongoing developments regarding COVID-19,” said KCBX General Manager Frank Lanzone. “We came to the difficult decision to postpone this year’s event after in-depth conversations, thoughtful analysis and discussions with our local government officials and health agencies.”

The Live Oak Music Festival is now scheduled for June 18-20, 2021. It was originally slated for June 19-21, 2020 at San Luis Obispo County’s beautiful El Chorro Regional Park on Highway 1 in Chorro Valley. This would have marked our second festival at the venue.

“We’re heartbroken to have to postpone our 32nd festival,” Lanzone said, “but health and safety remain our top priority along with the longevity of Live Oak and Public Radio KCBX. We’re committed to comingback strong next year.”

The festival is an important fundraiser for KCBX Central Coast Public Radio, an NPR affiliate that provides local regional and national news, information and music for San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and southern Monterey Counties.

“The financial consequences to KCBX could be severe without the funding we count on from Live Oak,” said Lanzone, “but I’m encouraged by some of the relief options available with newly passed legislation which allocated some money to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to help public media organizations like ours.

”Festival organizers want to thank the community for their continued support: first, through the challenging yet successful transition to a new location in SLO County last year and now throughthis unprecedented public health emergency together. Information about refunds, donation opportunities and plans for the 2021 festival are available at www.liveoakfest.org.“

Our mission to support this wonderful community continues and we know everyone feels the same. But most important now, please stay safe and healthy,” added Lanzone.