Shuttered.
The outdoor concerts at Centre Market, each and every one of the festivals set for Heritage Port, and even the Main Street Bank Festival of Lights Parade in December were canceled because of Covid-19. The statistics released by the public health directors in Ohio and Marshall counties pertaining to positive test have been alarming for long stretches of time, and families were encouraged not to reunite during the holiday season.
But since the distribution of vaccines began throughout the Upper Ohio Valley in mid-December, a significant decrease has been realized.
And that is why is it almost “Go Time.”
“We are planning to have our festival season this spring and summer. I can say that, but it’s also subject to change if we experience an outbreak or the numbers start changing,” explained Wheeling City Manager Bob Herron. “But the vaccines are really getting cranked out by the local health departments and pharmacies, and the same thing has happened throughout this tri-state region.
“We have had one major event cancel and that is the Ogden race weekend, but they have told us that it will be back next year,” he said. “The Wheeling Feeling Chili Cook-Off is usually the first Saturday in June, but they have postponed it until August, but we have booked our Waterfront Wednesdays, and that will begin at the end of May, and the Rib-Cook off that is scheduled for mid-June is still on.”
But Wait! There’s More!
Along with the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival that is scheduled for July 23-25, there also is the Heritage Blues Fest (Aug. 13-15), the Mountaineer BrewFest (Aug. 21), and the Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta (Sept. 3). The Sternwheel Festival, however, was canceled in late February.
What precautions are mandated by state officials this summer, according to the city manager, will be followed, and event organizers will be in charge of the enforcement of those regulations.
“The Fourth of July Celebration at Heritage Port is planned to happen, as well, and the Italian Festival is moving forward, too,” Herron reported. “We are very hopeful for the return of summer here in the city of Wheeling after everything had to be canceled last year. Now, when these events do take place, there are going to guidelines that everyone will have to follow, but as of right now, everything is a go.
“The big concern that we have is the distancing requirements that are in place, and it’s going to be very difficult, and we’re going to have to figure it out,” he said. “It’s still a couple of months away, and we don’t know what the regulations will be when that time arrives. Hopefully, most of the people understand that those things are in place for their own safety.”
But what if people refuse to practice the precautions?
“If we still have to remain socially distanced, and if we still have to wear a mask, then those things will be in place when those events take place,” Herron said. “Whether or not the people in attendance of those events follow those guidelines will be a factor when we decide whether or not to hold more.
“We have to look at what we’ll have to do in order to enforce those regulations, and if we can’t do it because the people refuse to cooperate, then we’ll have to wait for next summer to have those events,” he said. “It is a good sign that we have moved forward with the scheduling of these events, but I implore the people who want to come to them that they adhere to whatever guidelines are in place so that we can continue with all of the others.”
