City of Dearborn recently issued the following announcement
Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. and the City Council have agreed the 2020 Homecoming festival will be canceled in light of continuing public health concerns.
The decision was made May 12 following a recommendation by the Homecoming planning committee. The 41-year-old festival was scheduled for Aug. 7-9.
“We all like Dearborn’s Homecoming tradition, so it is with regret that we must cancel it for this year,” said Mayor O’Reilly. “But we must think first of all about the health and safety of the public, the many volunteers, and our employees.
“Although we won’t have Homecoming this year, we’re looking forward to a time when we can celebrate our community,” said Mayor O’Reilly. “We anticipate that there will be an event in the future that will allow us to enjoy wonderful music, food and fireworks, and most importantly, connect with each other again.”
Planning and fundraising for the August festival takes place year round. With the disruption caused by COVID-19, critical steps in the process could not be carried out.
So in addition to the public safety issue, other factors went into the decision to cancel now and not wait to see what conditions might be in the summer.
Among the considerations:
• About $100,000 in sponsorships must be raised each year by early May for the festival to cover all costs of the event, excluding city labor costs. As of May 12, no sponsorship commitments have been confirmed, due to economic concerns of businesses and organizations.
• Stage entertainment could not be booked, due to performers’ concerns regarding the safety of all venues, not just Homecoming.
• The two dozen Dearborn-based nonprofit groups that sell food and beverages or promote their mission at Homecoming, as well as the 10 commercial food trucks, were unable to commit by the early May deadline.
• The anticipated significant cost to maintain sanitized festival grounds, even if it were possible to do so.
In addition, city leaders who make up the planning committee and employees who prepare and take down the festival site are instead needed for more essential tasks in light of the COVID19 crisis.
Making the decision to cancel now benefits the Dearborn nonprofit groups so they can plan alternative fundraising opportunities.
It also gives notice to the many companies already contacted by the city to provide staging, sound systems, portable toliets, generators, trailers, tents, and carnival rides.
“It’s disappointing to go without Homecoming this year,” said Mayor O’Reilly, “but we are making the decision that is best for our community.”
Homecoming is presented by the City of Dearborn in partnership with the nonprofit Dearborn Community Fund.
Original source: http://cityofdearborn.org/news-and-events/city-news/1902-homecoming-2020-canceled-due-to-health-concerns
Alerts Sign-up