The 2020 Bendigo PRIDE Festival is the latest event to be postponed or cancelled due to the risk of COVID-19.
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Organisers made the announcement on Tuesday morning, ahead of the official opening that was scheduled for this weekend.
"Our committee has been working around the clock to create an unforgettable experience for the Bendigo LGBTQI+ community and, although we are disappointed, we know that this is the right decision for the safety of our community with the current COVID-19 concerns," organisers wrote on social media.
It was to be the city's second PRIDE Festival, an event to celebrate the LGBTIQ community and promote diversity and inclusion.
The festival was to run over three weekends and its program included an opening party, a comedy night, a ball, and the Bendigo Queer Film Festival, among other events.
Director John Richards said the festival's committee was looking at the possibility of holding a smaller, 'pop-up' festival one weekend later this year, although it was possible the festival would be postponed until 2021.
"At the moment, planning ahead is difficult, because no one knows when this will finish," Mr Richards said.
However, some of the events on the program were already non-physical, such as a podcast and a fanzine, so Mr Richards said those would probably proceed in some way.
He said the committee was also looking at ways some elements of the festival could be delivered via video, to ensure "some pride can still be brought to Bendigo".
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