Byron Writers Festival cancelled after wild weather

BYRON Writers Festival has cancelled its weekend program after heavy rain caused power outages and turned parts of the Bangalow Showground into a mud pit.

The festival opened Friday to big crowds, umbrellas and ankle-deep puddles, with authors and audiences pushing on through the wet.

But with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting another 40mm of rain over the weekend, organisers made the call late Friday to cancel all events scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

“This is a deeply regrettable but necessary decision,” artistic director Jessica Alice said.

“Though we had a wonderful but wet first day, now the safety of our community is our highest priority. The forecast conditions make it impossible to continue the event safely.

“We encourage patrons to come to the Book Room in Byron this weekend and collect the books of our fabulous authors.”

Power issues disrupted several sessions on Friday afternoon, including a panel featuring veteran journalist Peter Greste, which lost lights and sound around 3pm.

An email to ticket holders, sent at 9.55pm Friday, confirmed the cancellation and said the decision had been made in close consultation with authors, partners, suppliers and volunteers.

“We are devastated and we’re sure everyone associated with the festival will also feel the disappointment and loss that comes with a festival cancellation,” the message read.

Ticket holders were asked to bear with organisers as they manage the situation, with further updates to follow.

Satellite events, including Guardian Australia’s Are You Game Show, Beyond the Lines, and the Meet the Agent session, are still scheduled to proceed.