Raleigh cancels or postpones fall festivals, road races, special events due to COVID-19
The Raleigh City Council voted Tuesday to cancel or postpone all festivals, road races and parades in the capital city at least through October.
Many special events had already been canceled or postponed, but some groups were waiting for guidance before deciding what to do, said Derrick Remer, the city’s emergency management director.
Events affected by the city’s decision include:
- Brewgaloo
- Artsplosure
- Cuegrass
- Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo
- Raleigh Tamale Festival
“Let’s just admit and recognize that we are saddened by this,” City Manager Ruffin Hall said. “But it’s necessary given the circumstances.”
There have been more than 6,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wake County, with about 3,800 of those cases in Raleigh.
Large events that require a special event permit have been canceled or postponed since March 14. They include IBMA Bluegrass Live!, Hopscotch Music Festival, Dreamville Music Festival and Packapalooza.
This new decision does not apply to the city’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources programs and the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex.
“This is not to say they won’t do something similar, but the biggest difference is that most special events are general admission and open to the public,” Remer said. “That makes it very difficult to control the crowds as you might be able to do with a ticketed event or one where you can register people and strictly control access.”
State law limits gatherings to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Outdoors events with fewer than 25 people, like a neighborhood block party, may be issued a special events permit, Remer said.
The City Council will continue to hold virtual meeting through August.
The city opened its summer camps with limited capacity last week. Two dozen families were notified their child was exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case.
The city’s public pools opened this week.
This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 2:36 PM.
