Coronavirus concerns prompt event cancellations in Thurston County and beyond
Concerns about COVID-19, or coronavirus, have resulted in the cancellation of Saturday’s Lacey Cultural Celebration at Saint Martin’s University, as well as Temple Beth Hatfiloh’s Blintzpalooza, slated for March 22.
Jen Burbidge, Lacey’s parks and recreation director, issued a statement. “We did not want to cancel this event,” she wrote. But after a “significant number of vendors and performers” decided they would not participate because of coronavirus, city officials said they did not feel they could “provide a viable event for the community.”
The celebration typically attracts 5,000 people, 60 vendors and about 20 stage acts, Lacey spokesman Steve Kirkman said Thursday.
Also Thursday, Temple Beth Hatfiloh announced on Facebook that it has canceled Blintzapalooza, a popular fundraiser that sells blintzes, bagels, baked goods and books.
“Members of the organizing committee, in consultation with health authorities, have determined that holding a gathering that regularly attracts several thousands of persons in a relatively confined space is unwise while the Covid-19 virus is spreading rapidly in our state,” the synagogue announced on Facebook. “We want to thank those who have already spent hours in planning and organizing the event and those who volunteered and stood ready to assist at the event itself.”
Grand Vin Wine Merchants also postponed Friday night’s monthly wine tasting out of “an abundance of caution for staff and customers.” It will be open until 7 p.m., however.
Here are other events around the state that have been impacted the COVID-19 outbreak:
▪ Emerald City Comic Con has been postponed. Organizers announced the decision Friday to move the four-day pop culture celebration to this summer. The event was originally scheduled for March 12-15 at Washington State Convention Center. The event draws around 100,000 people annually. The company made the announcement in a statement on its website Friday morning.
▪ The Taste of Washington, one of the state’s top wine and food festivals hosted by the Washington State Wine Commission, has been canceled due to COVID-19. The event was originally scheduled for March 19-22 in Seattle.
▪ The Holi Festival at Lake Sammamish, a colorful and traditional Indian celebration that ushers in spring, originally scheduled for March 15, has been canceled, organizers announced. The cancellation is based on recommendations from King County Public Health.
▪ The Washington State Council of Fire Fighters announced on Facebook that the annual Fire Fighter Stair Climb in Seattle to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has been postponed. The event was originally scheduled for March 8 and 22, and the post said updates on rescheduling are upcoming.
▪ The Washington State Democratic Party postponed the Warren G. Magnuson Award fundraising dinner scheduled to be held before the March 10 presidential primary, according to a story Tuesday, March 3, by the Seattle Times. The event, originally scheduled for March 7, has been rescheduled for May 9.
▪ The Northwest Athletic Conference announced that it has suspended its men’s and women’s community college basketball tournaments after Everett Community College closed its campus Thursday, March 5. The tournament said had already played three games and that plans for rescheduling would be released later.
▪ The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has canceled its next regular meeting, set for March 11-12 in Chelan. because of the increase in COVID-19 cases. It meets six times a year.
This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 3:47 PM.
