Buffalo Grove Days, Fourth of July fireworks canceled because of COVID-19
Buffalo Grove Days has joined the list of suburban summer festivals canceled as a result of COVID-19.
The village board Monday agreed to put the festival, held every Labor Day weekend since 1962, on the shelf. Trustees also voted to cancel the Fourth of July fireworks show and concert.
For board members, it was a gut-wrenching decision.
"It's very hard to vote 'no' on something you know our residents love," Village President Beverly Sussman said.
Public Works Director Michael Reynolds outlined the obstacles of holding the festival.
"We're also thinking that vendors, food vendors in particular, primarily restaurants that may have been closed throughout this pandemic, will not be in a position, financially or otherwise, to be able to participate in the event this year," Reynolds said, adding that sponsors will be difficult to find.
Trustee Joanne Johnson noted that Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, has said some form of social distancing will have to remain in place throughout the summer.
"Being that Buffalo Grove Days is at the end of the summer, I don't see how we can have an event where we have by its very essence people in crowds," Johnson said. "And I don't see families lining up at the carnival or people sitting in crowds watching bands."
Trustee Andrew Stein also raised worries about the festival's being a place where a virus could spread.
"All we need to do is to bring a bunch of people together ... in close quarters under a food tent, in a field, at a carnival, touching rides. And we're going to be the hot spot, and I really don't want to be that hot spot," he said.
Among the other festivals canceled already because of coronavirus concerns are Frontier Days in Arlington Heights and Northwest Fourth-Fest in Hoffman Estates.