New Year's Eve Festival Lost Paradise Has Been Cancelled Because of the NSW Bushfires

Since first unleashing its festival fun back in 2014, Lost Paradise has become an end-of-year staple. But, just two weeks out from its 2019 event, the Glenworth Valley festival has had to cancel because of NSW's catastrophic bushfires.

So far this fire season, bushfires have destroyed 724 homes and burnt 2.7 million hectares across the state. One of the most destructive blazes is the "mega-fire" in the Wollemi National Park — currently more than 344,000 hectares in size, but being controlled —  which is right next to Lost Paradise's home. With hot and dry conditions predicted for the rest of summer, and some saying the worst is yet to come, the festival has made the decision to cancel the festival.

A Lost Paradise spokesperson said the decision had been made after "extensive consultation with the Rural Fire Service, emergency personnel and other key stakeholders". "Our beautiful home in Sydney's Central Coast is facing intense and unpredictable fire conditions that are sadly expected to deteriorate," the spokesperson said in a statement. "We simply cannot put anyone's life at risk."

While the festival considered possible options to relocate the festival, none of them had been possible within the short timeframe.

Lost Paradise was set to run from December 28–January 1, with Rüfüs Du Sol, Hilltop Hoods, Honey Dijon, The Jungle Giants and The Veronicas some of the artists scheduled to perform across the four stages. Talks, workshops and multiple types of yoga had all been locked in as part of the fest's Shambhala Fields program, too.

Everyone with a ticket will be eligible for a refund, with individual ticketing providers set to provide details surrounding the refund process in the coming details.

Top image: Boaz Nothham