Three county festivals canceled

Three more local communities have pulled the plug on their 2020 festivals, making St. Joseph County festival-free this summer.

Mendon Riverfest organizers agreed last week to put the brakes on what would have been the 34th festival. Committee president Spencer Howe said lingering concerns about COVID-19 as well as an especially tough year for soliciting financial donations from traditional sponsors were key factors.

Riverfest was supposed to take place Aug. 13-15.

The 12th annual Burr Oak Heritage Festival will not materialize, as its committee members concurred last week, as well, that it’s best to take the year off. Chairperson Patricia Seeba said it wasn’t worth the risk holding the Heritage Festival for fear of someone coming down with coronavirus.

Heritage Festival was scheduled for July 23-26.

On Monday this week, Abbott’s Magic owner Greg Bordner canceled what would have been the 83rd Get-Together. Bordner said he was concerned about whether Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would have restrictions about crowd sizes still in place by the time the Get-Together was to start its four-day run Aug. 5.

The cancellation marks the first time the Get-Together has not happened since 1968.