Coronavirus: Springfield Summer Arts Festival cancelled

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Arts Council will not hold the 2020 Summer Arts Festival following several weeks monitoring COVID-19 developments.

"The health and safety of our volunteers, performers, sponsors, board, staff, crew, and the thousands of fans who attend annually, are our first and highest priority," said Lori Fulk, President of the Springfield Arts Council's board of directors in a release. "We are heartbroken to make this decision, but we feel the welfare of our community and participants must be our foremost consideration in this unresolved time."

The decision was made in compliance with Governor DeWine's mass-gathering restrictions and social-distancing guidelines in mind.

Executive Director Tim Rowe in a written statement added, “The decision to cancel our Festival is unprecedented for the Springfield Arts Council. As we navigate these uncertain times together, the Springfield Arts Council’s board of directors does not want to reach the other side of this pandemic, only to regret not having done more to protect our community from potential harm. We look forward to being able to come together for next summer’s Festival.”

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