Another year of Hospitality Days has come and gone. Now, with a few weeks to sit back and reflect on what an incredible experience it was, we want to take this opportunity to say a big, heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out, supported us, and helped make it happen.

We’ve received so much positive feedback, whether from the businesses who held events, the volunteers who gave their time, or the people of Bathurst who came out in such great numbers to celebrate. Your enthusiasm is what keeps this festival alive.

This year brought a lot of firsts. A large percentage of the committee was brand new, we tried different events in various parts of the city, and even introduced a new layout at Vickers Field. Like any big community event, it’s a constant process of trial and error to see what works best and what needs tweaking. This year, we walked away both humbled and encouraged by the feedback we received.

That’s not to say there isn’t still work to do, there’s always room to make Hospitality Days even better. In fact, the committee is already hard at work planning next summer’s festival. While it’s too early to share many details, we can confirm one exciting bit of news: Country Music Night will be back in 2026.

Last year, it was one of the most talked-about events, and this year we heard loud and clear from many of you that it was missed. We’ve taken that to heart, and country music fans can look forward to some exciting announcements in the months ahead.

We’re also making improvements behind the scenes. For 2026, we plan to bring on one or more volunteers dedicated to social media. We know that in the excitement and busyness of the festival, some inquiries didn’t get answered as quickly as they should have. Our goal is to make sure that next year, every question gets a prompt response. We’ll also be making announcements earlier, giving everyone more time to plan.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the people and groups who help make Hospitality Days a reality. We want to give a special thank you to La Cave Media for the amazing work they did. Every beautiful photo and video you saw during festival week came from their talented team.

To our student workers—you went above and beyond in everything we asked of you. To the volunteers who helped set up and tear down the stage, as well as those who pitched in across the city in countless other ways, we see you, and we appreciate you. And to the entire committee: planning a festival is one thing, but seeing it all come together is something truly special, and that’s because of your dedication.

Finally, as announced during the festival, Hospitality Days is now helping raise funds for a brand-new amphitheatre in Bathurst. A permanent stage that could host even bigger acts and serve as a venue for events year-round. It’s still early days, but we believe this project would be an incredible addition to our city.

Thank you again for making 2025 unforgettable. We can’t wait to share what we have planned for 2026.