Lisa Willows is involved in the organisation of the Howling Moon Blues Festival.

This year was the first time it had stakeholders come onboard to support it, including Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and Charles Sturt University.

The festival has been rescheduled for June 2021 but given the uncertainty around the unfolding COVID-19 situation, it's not known whether it will go ahead.

Twelve bands were scheduled to play at the festival but have all since been cancelled.

Ms Willows said people had bought tickets to the Howling Moon Blues Festival but none of them have demanded a refund.

"We hold all the money in trust," she said.

Ms Willows said a lot of people want to hold onto hope the festival will continue in 2021, so are willing to keep their tickets.

"We've been getting messages from people asking when the festival will be on and saying they are desperate to come to one," she said.

Ms Willows was in the process of bringing a new folk music festival to the region when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Grants are available for organisers to conduct festivals where people can carry out social distancing measures.

However, Ms Willows said the idea is not feasible as with less people attending the event under the health guidelines, the cost to run the festival would not be met.

It's also risky for festival organisers to proceed in the current climate, given how quickly COVID-19 can spread within the community.

"(What happens) if a festival is the cause of hundreds of cases?," Ms Willows said.

"Your brand would be damaged for ever."

Scott Mesiti is the organiser of the Port Macquarie Beer and Cider Festival and said it's not known whether this year's event will go ahead.

"We'd like to yes but we can't say for sure," he said.

"We postponed the festival in November 2019 due to fires, then held the event in February in record rainfall and now COVID-19 is a huge factor.

"A triple whammy but we're always optimistic."

Mr Mesiti is also head of touring Australia for MJR Presents and said the events and entertainment industry has been one of the hardest hit.

MJR Presents is in charge of organising a number of shows around the country and ticket sales are maintaining a steady flow.

"I do think people are very eager to get back to normality, as long as the event organisers can comply with COVID-19 safe standards," Mr Mesiti said.

Many artists rely on festivals to showcase their talent.

Mr Mesiti said artists have to be creative in making their own opportunity and can't always rely on other venues or events to be their bread and butter.

"Easy to say but it's just how it is at the moment," he said.

An organiser from FOTSUN was contacted for comment but did not respond before this article was published.

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