Please Note: The Guelph Jazz Festival policy for indoor ticketed concerts has been updated as of 31 August, 2021. Please scroll to the bottom of this page or click here to access it.
It is our commitment at the Guelph Jazz Festival to present live music in a way that is safe for our audience, and to work to provide a comfortable environment to engage live music after a long hiatus. With this in mind, we are working directly with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health to execute the 2021 Guelph Jazz Festival safely and responsibly. The measures involved in this process include:
• Capacity Limits: At both our indoor and outdoor sites, we will maintain strict capacity limits that are under the recommended capacity for the site to help to ensure audience safety and comfort
• Contact Tracing: Patron information will need to be submitted prior to entry at any GJF site for contact tracing purposes, including responses to a screening questionnaire
• Mask-wearing: Face coverings will be required at all indoor GJF venues, and recommended at all outdoor GJF venues
• Physical Distancing: Seating at indoor GJF venues will be devised to optimise the musical experience, while still maintaining 2-metre+ distances between patrons; volunteers will work to encourage distancing between patrons in a polite manner
• Sanitisation: Indoor spaces will be thoroughly disinfected prior to and following all GJF events; hand sanitiser will be available at all GJF sites
• No Food or Drink Service: No food or drink will be served at GJF sites to limit transmission
• No Late Entry at Ticketed Events: Once the music has started at any of our indoor, ticketed concerts, no attendees will be permitted to enter; attendees may leave a concert early but will not be permitted to re-enter
• All Participants are Subject to These Measures: Everyone involved in the 2021 Guelph Jazz Festival, including audience, volunteers, artists, and staff are expected to adhere to these measures.
This year as part of our contract staff, we have specifically hired a COVID-19 Compliance Manager, whose job it is to plan and execute plans that ensure that all of the above measures are followed in a way to optimise the musical experiences of our patrons while still serving to ensure their safety and comfort.
Updated COVID-19 Policy for Indoor Ticketed Concerts • Posted on 1 September, 2021
As of 31 August, the Guelph Jazz Festival Board of Directors has updated its COVID-19 policy regarding indoor ticketed concerts during the 2021 Festival.
Attendees at any of these seven indoor concerts, 16-19 September, must be prepared to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination on site (print-out or on mobile device) prior to entry. Those who do not produce their COVID-19 vaccination records may be denied entry. This policy is motivated by our desire to ensure the safety and comfort of everyone in attendance under current circumstances in which Provincial ‘Vaccine Passports’ are in development but not yet ready.
Ontario residents can access copies of their vaccine receipts through this link.
Attendees with medical exemptions that prevent them from being vaccinated are invited to contact us so that we can find a way to accommodate them reasonably.
While in general the Guelph Jazz Festival aims to offer inspiring live music experiences for listeners of all ages, we do not think it is appropriate for children 12 years and under to attend our indoor ticketed events in 2021 given the current public health situation. If you wish to discuss this aspect of our COVID-19 Policy, please contact us, and we will endeavour to find a way to accommodate you and your child if it is possible to do so.
Please see this page for General Health and Safety policies in place for the 2021 Guelph Jazz Festival. Those that feel excluded by this policy should note that over 80% of festival programming is at outdoor venues and open to all. Furthermore, several of the indoor ticketed concerts will be broadcast online two weeks after the festival, the weekend of 1-2-3 October. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Due to the changing nature of the Public Health situation in Ontario, this policy is subject to change. Please check this site for further updates.