Worried WB cancels Cherry Blossom Festival, Fine Arts Fiesta
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WILKES-BARRE — The long-running Fine Arts Fiesta was canceled and so was the city’s Cherry Blossom Festival as uncertainties about the duration of the coronavirus weigh heavily on the minds of organizers and officials.
Mayor George Brown on Monday announced the cancellations of the springtime outdoor events that draw thousands to the city.
“It is with deep regret that we must cancel these annual events, but it must be done now to ensure that we can celebrate as a community later,” Brown said.
The city run Cherry Blossom Festival at Kirby Park was the earlier of the two, scheduled for April 25 and 26 in Kirby Park.
Brown said the festival attracts approximately 30 vendors and the city makes around $7,500 from it. The revenue is welcomed, but it takes a back seat to protecting the public at this point when social distancing has restricted large gatherings of people to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“What’s important is the safety of people,” Brown said.
The same applied to the Fine Arts Fiesta scheduled for May 14 through May 17 on Public Square. It would have been the 65th consecutive year for the downtown event.
Fine Arts Fiesta Board President Mary Anne Fedrick and the Fiesta Board of Directors released a statement on the group’s Facebook page:
“It is with deep sadness and regret that upon conferring with the City of Wilkes-Barre, both the Fiesta Board of Directors and Mayor George Brown agree that we should exercise an abundance of caution and cancel the 2020 Fine Arts Fiesta. We love our community, artists, vendors and sponsors, and would be devastated if any of them were to be touched by the COVID-19 virus. We thank Mayor George Brown for his compassion and support, and wish all of you good health. Please stay safe, and never fear, Fiesta will be back better than ever next year!”
Brian Benedetti, executive director of the Fiesta, added that the board trusted the mayor and deferred to him to announce the cancellation.
There was no clear indication on when the ban on large gatherings would be lifted and even more uncertainty on how people would feel about going out without the ban, Benedetti explained of the decision making behind the cancellation. Artists and people travel from beyond Northeastern Pennsylvania to attend.
“It’s a logistical decision. It’s a fiscal decision. It is a human safety decision,” Benedetti said.
Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.