The city of Burnaby has officially pulled the plug on one of its most biggest and most important cultural events of the year. 

This morning brings news that this year's Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival has been cancelled. The two-day celebration of blues, country, folk, and indie music was scheduled to take place in Deer Lake Park on August 7-8. 

Burnaby kept its announcement brief, called the decision "difficult", but basing it on guidance from B.C. governement health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Refunds will be processed automatically through Ticketmaster if that's where tickets were purchased. Those who purchased tickets through the Shadbolt Centre Box office will receive a phone call on or before May 4 to start the refund process. 

Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival organizers are hopeful that the two-decade-old event will be able to return in 2021.