The oversized bloody marys, savory tacos and large crowds that help make up Celebrate Highwood’s annual event season will be noticeably absent from Everts Park this year.
Celebrate Highwood, the local nonprofit that organizes summer events in downtown Highwood, such as Bloody Mary Fest, Nashwood, North Shore Pride Fest and Taco Fest, announced this week it has canceled its 2020 event season because of public health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.
As a result, the organization plans to shift its focus to creating programs and initiatives that are meant to help the community during the pandemic, which has forced thousands out of jobs, shuttered public facilities and forced residents to stay at home.
“We are going to take all the time, effort and energy it takes to plan our wonderful events, and put that into helping boost our community morale and keep our local economies going,” stated Ken Robertson, co-president of Celebrate Highwood.
Celebrate Highwood launched its first community program in late April, raising more than $4,000 and supplying groceries to more than 200 families. The nonprofit also has launched a virtual trivia tour, which is a series of trivia games centered around promoting businesses in town, according to spokeswoman Ilyse Strongin.
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Future programs and events from the organization this year will be in line with the various events Celebrate Highwood typically hosts at Everts Park and elsewhere in Highwood, she said.
While plans haven’t been set, yet, ideas have ranged from scavenger hunts to drive-in movies, according to Strongin. She said many of Celebrate Highwood’s ideas will depend on how the state rolls out plans for restarting the economy in the coming weeks and months.
But residents can expect to see pop-up activities and events in the near future, she said. The organization also is accepting donations that will go to buying groceries for families.
The efforts to try and keep the community engaged in 2020 also will come as the nonprofit tries to make up for the loss of its community events, which are crucial to Celebrate Highwood’s ability to budget and plan for its operations.
But Strongin said she is optimistic of the events Celebrate Highwood will be introducing in the coming year.
“We’re fun. We think out of the box, and our town is pretty open to a lot of ideas,” Strongin said. “We’re just going to keep thinking and seeing what people are doing around the country and world, and apply it to Highwood.”
Celebrate Highwood’s change in approach also comes on the heels of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s recently announced “Restore Illinois” plan, which is a five-phase plan meant to guide the slow reopening of businesses across the state.
“We have such a creative and energetic Celebrate Highwood Board and we are looking forward to announcing some fun activities to continue to support our local causes,” said Michael Goldstein, a co-president of the nonprofit. “We are looking forward to when we can all come together again in Highwood to do what we do best — have fun with neighbors and friends.”