Sean C. Morgan
Oregon Jamboree Festival Director Robert Shamek announced May 13 that the 2020 Oregon Jamboree would not be held this year.
Jamboree staff, SHEDG board members and management team members have been following the status of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Jamboree statement.
“The No. 1 concern was the safety and well-being of our community, patrons, vendors, partners and artists. We tried to hold out for as long as possible, entertaining multiple variations of how the 2020 festival could safely happen in accordance to government and federal regulations.”
Management had announced the previous week that, based on the state governor’s orders, the Jamboree would not be held as scheduled on July 31 to Aug. 2.
“We are working hard to make sure it happens next year,” Shamek said in a public statement, and 2020 headliner Dierks Bentley has already agreed to join the 2021 lineup July 30 through Aug. 1. The Jamboree is continuing to work with artist management to sign more of the 2020 lineup, along with a few additions.
“We will have some announcements coming up soon with some artists that we’ve already confirmed, and I think you guys will be excited. I can guarantee it’s going to be just as big a show next year as it would’ve been this year.”
Existing 2020 camping and concert tickets have automatically been rolled over to the 2021 festival, according to the Jamboree statement.
For each ticket that is rolled over, customers will be entered to win meet-and-greet passes for all three of the 2021 headliners, along with an upgrade to reserved seating for two, camping passes for two sites, a Jamboree swag bag and a guitar autographed by the entire 2021 lineup.
“I know there’s been some question about ticket rollover and refunds,” Shamek said.
“I want all of you guys to know that anybody that’s won tickets, yes all the tickets will be rolled over to 2021. I know that we have almost 2,500 reserved seat ticket holders. We will not be putting 2021 reserve seats on sale. We’re hoping that everybody will roll them over. It would definitely help not only the Jamboree out but also our higher ups, which is SHEDG.”
The Oregon Jamboree three-day camping and country music festival serves as a fund-raising tool for the Sweet Home Economic Development Group. The event also is the busiest weekend of the year for many local businesses.
“As most of you know, this isn’t just going to affect our Oregon Jamboree family,” Shamek said. “It’s also going to affect our entire community of Sweet Home and the surrounding community.
“We pull, with your help, millions of dollars into our sleepy little town. For one week a year, it grows from 9,000 people to, well, you have all seen it. We run about 16,000 people per day through our front gates. All of our community’s going to be hit pretty hard.
“We’re going to power through 2020, and we’re going to strive to be even better in 2021, and I know by then, everyone is going to need a really big party. We’re 100 percent looking forward to 2021. All of our concert series that we do in the summer, all of our artists are on board to jump on and knock all those out again in 2021.
“From the whole Jamboree family, staff, volunteers, supervisors, management team, my Board of Directors, we just want to say thank you, and we really look forward to seeing everybody in 2021.”
Anyone with questions or concerns is urged to contact the Jamboree at [email protected]. The office remains closed, but staff continue to monitor email from home and return phone calls.