Eaglehawk's Dahlia and Arts Festival returning in 2021 after 2020 event was cancelled

The annual festival was one of the first events to be cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Festival president David Richards OAM said it had been "gut-wrenching" to make that decision just days out from the 2020 festival.

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But he said organisers were excited to celebrate the 50^th Dahlia and Arts Festival in 2021.

"It's a pretty special event considering we're all volunteers," Mr Richards said. "It's a true community event. To think we have gone for 50 years, it's a pretty remarkable achievement."

Mr Richards said organisers were planning to feature all of the usual activities in the 2021 festival, including the flower show, street parade, and art shows.

He said the event would follow any coronavirus requirements from the state government.

"We felt as a committee that our community deserved a festival," Mr Richards said. "We are prepared to stick our neck out and do our best.

Read more: Eaglehawk 2020 Dahlia and Arts Festival cancelled after coronavirus warnings

"There's a lot more paperwork but we're getting through it. We're hopeful that everything we said would run goes ahead.

"None of us know what will happen, but we're hoping it will be even better than it is now. We're going with that hope."

Mr Richards said the festival would start on Wednesday, March 17 at the Eaglehawk Town Hall.

Winners of the Flack Advisory Youth Scholarship, the literary competition, and the Lola Miller Short Film Competition would be announced on that night.

"We're going to give it our best shot," Mr Richards said. "It's all about the community being able to come together and have a really good time."

Mr Richards said people could keep up to date with announcements at eaglehawkfestival.org.au

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