Organizers cancel 2020 Country Fest

MARIA STEIN - Maria Stein Country Fest committee members on Friday announced the cancellation of the 2020 festival due to COVID-19.

Committee member Anna Garmann said the decision was not easy to make. During their meeting on Tuesday, committee members discussed at length the pros and cons of canceling or postponing the festival.

In previous years, members had considered canceling or postponing the festival due to poor weather. However, the coronavirus presented a completely different challenge, Garmann said.

"The last two years we were able to work with the rain and pull this off," Garmann said. "But this year we want to keep everyone safe. We'd rather cancel for this year to keep people healthy to come back next year."

Garmann said postponing the festival rather than canceling it would have been more costly and a bigger endeavor to complete. For example, the committee would have to order food soon to have it ready in time. However, members wouldn't learn if they had acquired a food service license and beer license until June 1.

Garmann also noted that based on guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most organizations have postponed their volunteering opportunities. Volunteers in groups such as 4-H, Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts would have to volunteer independently of their organizations.

With too much uncertainty about the future and concern about keeping community members safe, Garmann said committee members would rather keep people healthy to come back for future festivals.

"We still want to provide a free family festival," she said. "We still appreciate the community's support in the past, present and hopefully in the future."

Garmann emphasized the committee's thankfulness to community members, volunteers, nonprofit organizations, businesses and vendors for their support. The 2021 Maria Stein Country Fest is set for June 25-27.