DULUTH – Bent Paddle Brewing's annual "Festiversary" in May has been canceled for a second year in a row as the pandemic continues to push back plans despite progress on vaccinations and optimism among other event planners that things will improve by summer.
Bent Paddle cancels 'Festiversary,' even as other Duluth summer events forge ahead
It is the first major cancellation of a summer loaded with events.
February 19, 2021 at 7:08PM
"Due to the ongoing seriousness of COVID-19, we have made the extremely tough but necessary decision to postpone Festiversary once again for 2021," the Duluth brewery announced on Thursday. "Mark down what WILL be a party of epic proportions 3 years in the making May 21, 2022."
In June, thousands will gather in town for a limited-capacity Grandma's Marathon that is scheduled to be run in person — though organizers have said COVID-19 numbers could cause the race to be held virtually, as it was in 2020.
A number of other popular summer events remain on the books, including at Bayfront Festival Park, which was quiet last summer as weekend after weekend of concerts and festivals were canceled in the face of restrictions on gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19.
So far the calendar for the outdoor waterfront venue remains fairly full starting in July, including Fourth Fest, Bayfront Reggae and World Music Festival and All Pints North in July, and Bayfront Blues Festival in August, to name just a few.
The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) is also starting to schedule events again, with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra playing to a limited audience next weekend and the Duluth Wedding Show on for March 14.
Brooks Johnson • 218-491-6496
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