PrairieFest in Oswego, traditionally held over the Father’s Day weekend, has been rescheduled to the Labor Day weekend due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Oswegoland Park District officials made the announcement Thursday. The event was set for June 18-21 but will now take place Sept. 4-7.
“The park district is committed to reflect the community and members of the community are being wonderful to one another during this time. We didn’t want to cancel the festival but we also wanted to reflect the seriousness of what is happening,” PrairieFest Director Kristie Vest said.
The park district reached out to some of the festival’s chief supporters when coming to its decision, officials said.
More Top Picks Best Footrest Hammocks For Office Chairs
“We were concerned about the impact the coronavirus is having on our local businesses and supporters. I was wondering whether this festival was going to be possible,” Vest said.
She heard from the festival’s presenting partner and others as well as the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce on the issue.
“Knowing what our community businesses are going through and the fact they still want to be there for our residents is not something we considered lightly,” Vest said. “These are businesses that have traditionally helped out financially for PrairieFest. When we thought the festival would have to be canceled because it would not be safe to have it in June and there was a possibility we wouldn’t have the supporters I reached out to see what they thought of postponing the event to a later date.
“The businesses and chamber told us we are with you,” she said.
PrairieFest brings out an average of 75,000 people over the four days of the event, organizers said. The festival has been featured on the Food Network and 35 community groups use the festival as a platform to raise proceeds for scholarships and awareness for causes, Vest said.
“The four days are packed with fun but it also serves to do a lot of good for our community. People will be looking for a place to come together. We hope to be that over the Labor Day holiday weekend,” she said.
The park district contacted people already scheduled to participate in the festival to find out what dates they were available. Labor Day weekend was the time the carnival and entertainment acts could come, she said.
“It was laborious to do but it’s nothing (compared to) what our essential workers are doing,” Vest said of rescheduling the festivities.
“People are excited that we didn’t cancel the festival,” she said. “It fuels us to plan a great event in September. I want to be outside and feel the sun on my face and be with family and friends and so do many others.”
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.