The 2020 Good Old Days Festival scheduled for October 3-4 at Barellan will not go ahead this year.

The Barellan Working Clydesdale Committee made the decision on May 22 to cancel the 11th annual festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary Norma Zingel said the unknowns for large mass gatherings beyond the Federal Government’s stage three roll-out of restrictions made organising and planning the event difficult.

“We are devastated for our small community of Barellan, our hard working committee, volunteers, exhibitors and visitors,” Norma said.

“We made this decision in the light of protecting the welfare of all those involved with the event.

“Our event relies on volunteers and visitors coming from every state in Australia to make it the success it is, and whether state borders will be open is yet to be decided.”

Norma said a disabled toilet block donated by the Narrandera Shire Council had been relocated from Lake Talbot swim park to the Barellan showground for the festival and other year round events.

“We have also installed a new stove in the scone kitchen and will be making improvements to the showground throughout the year.”

The Good Old Days Festival will now be held on October 2-3, 2021.

The Festival drew a record crowd of 7500 last year and has grown into the Narrandera Shire’s biggest event valued at over $1 million to the regional economy.

It has been billed as the greatest gathering of harnessed animals in the world and features the nation’s biggest composite team of 32 horses pulling the Clydesdale committee’s own fully laden wool wagon.

The Festival also incorporates the annual Furphy Festival, which draws enthusiasts from around the country to see some of the nation’s rarest collectible water carts on display.