Victoria's beloved electronic festival Chi Wow Wah Town are on the brink after their acclaimed 2024 edition faced the same funding shortfalls that are crippling the industry at the moment.
With Groovin the Moo cancelling its 2024 edition just weeks after its announcement and a myriad of festivals not returning this year altogether, it’s an extremely hard time for the festival industry in Australia at the moment.
The latest to suffer is popular Victorian electronic camping festival Chi Wow Wah Town, which despite a fun-filled 2024 edition in the Winton Wetlands last month, is now facing the inability to repay its costs after suffering the same unexpectedly low ticket sales that are strangling the broader industry.
In addition to being a beloved festival, Chi Wow Wah Town is also a major fundraiser for sufferers of multiple-sclerosis. Needless to say, it would be a disaster for Victoria’s electronic scene – which has already lost Earthcore, Maitreya, Yemaya and (at least temporarily) Rainbow Spirit over the past few years – to lose another of its most interesting boutique festivals, which has taken place in a uniquely beautiful wetland location for the last seven years.
So they’re asking for all of our support to ensure they can return next year.
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“We are sorry to share that beneath the energetic success of the event we are facing a significant financial shortfall,” the festival organisers, Danielle and Ewen, posted on the festival’s GoFundMe page.
“The reality is we didn’t sell enough tickets to meet budget expectations. In the lead up to the event, we did everything we could to reduce costs, but despite rigorous budget cuts and exhaustive team efforts, we are unhappily unable to pay everyone for their total efforts. Our experience is similar to that of other events globally, but we honestly didn’t expect this much of a gap.
“So now we stand at a crossroads, hoping this isn’t our final event. And while it’s hard to do so, we are swallowing our pride and reaching out to our tribe, to ask for support. If Chi Wow Wah Town has touched your life, if it has reinvigorated your belief in the power of community, if you dream of more unforgettable weekends like the last, we humbly ask for your support.
“Every contribution, no matter what size, brings us closer to ensuring that our shared dream can thrive for years to come. We want to ensure everyone is paid for their efforts and have no other choice but to call on the community at this point. By donating to our GoFundMe, you’re helping save a festival, you are helping preserve a community, a sanctuary, and a space where magic is real. With your help, we can continue to build the legacy of Chi Wow Wah Town and ensure that it can come back next year.
“We know the cost of living is hurting many people out there so we totally understand if you cannot contribute – but – if you can, please chip in. Share this message with friends, family, and anyone who believes in the transformative power of Chi Wow Wah to build community. Together, we hope to overcome this hurdle and keep the magic of Chi Wow Wah alive for years to come.
“Your donation, large or small, is more than a gift; it’s a lifeline that will help sustain our shared vision and ensure that our unique sanctuary continues to thrive.”
Visit Chi Wow Wah Town’s GoFundMe page here.
