2020 Charles City Party in the Park season canceled

To The Press

After delaying the events for a couple of months in the hopes they could be held later, Charles City Community Revitalization announced last week that the four Parties in the Park are canceled for this year.

This would have been the 18th year for the popular entertainment gatherings in Central Park hosted by Charles City’s Main Street Iowa program. The four events were canceled because of COVID-19 concerns and related issues, Community Revitalization said in a news release.

“This was an extremely difficult decision for our organizing committee and the Community Revitalization board of directors because Party in the Park has become such a big summer tradition in Charles City,” said Community Development Director Mark Wicks.

“Beyond the entertainment value, this event brings our community together, attracts visitors from out of town and provides a significant economic benefit for Charles City,” Wicks said.

“We tried very hard to still make Party in the Park possible in what has been a most difficult and uncertain year for many of us. However there were just too many factors this year working against us.”

The four original Party in the Park dates were May 29, June 19, July 31 and Aug. 14. The first two events were rescheduled for Aug. 28 and Sept. 18 in hopes the pandemic situation would improve by then.

“Our primary concern is always the public’s health, safety and enjoyment at any of our events, and the number of COVID cases in our area and state haven’t gone down and stayed down as we all had hoped they would,” Wicks said.

Members of the public, sponsors, activity providers and event volunteers voiced concerns with holding the events this summer, he said.

“In the end we feel this is the right thing to do, the responsible thing to do,” Wicks said. “That doesn’t mean we have to like it or that it won’t hurt our organization financially. But we feel that it is in the best interest of our community right now. Hopefully this time next year we can all be getting back together and Party in the Park again!”

Wicks said that the Party in the Park Committee would still like to provide an alternative entertainment event for the community this summer that could be done in a safe and social distancing manner.

Committee members are brainstorming what that might be and hope to make an announcement in the near future. The public is also encouraged to share ideas with the Community Revitalization office at (641) 228-2335 or info@charlescitychamber.com.