Arts Fest, other staple Centre County summer festivals canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
For the first time in their history, Centre County’s hallmark summer events will not happen this year, organizers announced Friday.
The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, along with organizers of Central PA 4th Fest, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, People’s Choice Festival and Philipsburg Heritage Days, announced that the staple events have been canceled for 2020 due to the coronavirus and public health concerns.
“It’s a gut-punch. It chokes me up,” John Madison, co-director of Boalsburg’s People’s Choice Festival, said. “These festivals mean a lot to a lot of people around here, and it’s just going to be tough, but we will be back.”
HVAB President and CEO Fritz Smith said the events involve a significant amount of planning, logistics and outsourcing of supplies, some from other countries.
“Given the situation we’re in with COVID-19, we have come to the decision, difficult as it is, that these events will not be held this year,” Smith said.
After working to rebrand as the Adventure Bureau last year, Smith said the county was anticipating “record-breaking” tourism numbers this year — estimating 300,000 visitors for summer events alone.
Festival organizers are planning to celebrate virtually this summer while focusing on making 2021 “bigger and better,” Smith said.
The planners of each event agreed to make the decision to cancel as a group.
Although the decision was not a “happy moment,” 4th Fest President Kurt Weibel said the spirit behind the events will still be present amid the pandemic.
“The mission of the Central PA 4th Fest is that it doesn’t matter if you are Democrat or Republican. It doesn’t matter what church you go to. It doesn’t matter what nationality you are. It’s here to celebrate our nation’s birthday,” Weibel said. “We might be pausing right now because of COVID-19, but we’re not going to cancel our nation’s birthday.”
Rescheduling for a different weekend in 2020 is “not in the cards” for the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, Executive Director Rick Bryant said.
“This is the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make in my years in the workforce,” Bryant said. “We are trying to keep the health and safety of our artists, performers and audience members foremost in mind. We don’t want State College and the Centre Region to become known as the petri dish for spread of anything other than happiness.”
Plans are in the works for a virtual celebration, but Bryant said he is unsure what an online festival will look like.
The 2020 Philipsburg Heritage Days theme, “Be True to Your School,” aimed to highlight area school districts, students and staff. President and Committee Chair Jim Pollock said the theme will stay the same for 2021.
“We’ll follow through next year and have our celebration,” Pollock said.
State College Spikes General Manager said the team is still planning for its summer season, scheduled to begin June 18, as no cancellations have been announced.
“I assure you that safety will be the first thing on everybody’s mind,” Walker said.
Although marketing and outreach for upcoming events has been suspended, HVAB will kick-start its marketing channels as soon as it’s safe to invite people back to the area.
“There is always a good reason to visit this place, our area, 365 days a year,” Smith said.
This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 10:23 AM.
