AUGUSTA – The creator and organizer of Crawfish Fest in Sussex County has canceled this year’s event due to the increase in cases caused by the Delta variant.
Michael Arnone wrote on the festival’s Facebook page that he was convinced two weeks ago that this year’s event would be the biggest ever. Then the upward trend in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant began with the CDC’s updated guidance forcing Arnone to make a decision he said he did not take lightly.
“It’s my livelihood. My number one rule has always been ‘no one gets hurt,” Arnone wrote. “I don’t see any other solution.”
According to the festival website, 99.75% of comments on the Facebook post agree.
Arnone expressed concern about unvaccinated people and musicians from across the country coming to the festival from states like Louisiana not adhering to masking and social distancing recommendations.
The CDC recommends that everyone, regardless of immunization status, wear masks indoors in public places, but no mandate is in place.
“The CDC advises to distance yourself outside. I just don’t see that happening with our three-day festival with people so close. A paint line won’t protect people. On a hot summer day. August, sweaty masks will most likely be almost impossible to keep people masked and at a safe distance, ”Arnone wrote.
The festival dance hall is covered and its pavilion stage is covered, semi-indoor.
According to the festival website, tickets for the 2021 festival will be good for the 2022 festival from June 3-5, 2022.
And the other events?
When most capacity limits were lifted in New Jersey in late May, planning accelerated for many events that had been canceled by the pandemic. One of these events, the Festival of Ballooning, went off without a hitch.
Entertainment areas like Jenkinson’s at Point Pleasant Beach, Steel Pier in Atlantic City, and Six Flags Great Adventure have been operating at full capacity this summer. Great Adventure has announced its plans for its annual Fright Fest.
The Point Pleasant Beach Chamber of Commerce said its 43rd annual Festival of the Sea is still going as scheduled on September 18. The Sea.Hear.Now sold out. A concert in Asbury Park featuring Pearl Jam and the Smashing Pumpkins is also still scheduled for September 18-19.
Seaside Heights makes no changes to its daily lineup of shows, movies, fireworks, tribute bands, beach concerts and kites.
“We’re worried like everyone else, but at this point we don’t hit the panic button. We’re going to watch him, watch him. Everything seems to be fine,” Seaside Heights Mayor Tony Vaz said. in New Jersey 101.5. “Everything is on its way as we speak.”
Vaz said mask wear and vaccinations are encouraged
The two biggest events scheduled for fall, the Wine on the Beach Festival on September 11 and 12 and the three-day Ocean County Columbus Day parade are still scheduled, according to the mayor. Both were canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Contact reporter Dan Alexander at [email protected] or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ
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