Will Erie's Blues and Jazz Festival Go Forward in 2021?
Organizers of Erie's Blues and Jazz Festival are weighing their options for this year's edition of the popular event.
This will be the 29th annual festival, which typically takes place over three days in Frontier Park in early August.
Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed festival performances to an online streaming format.
This year, Artistic Director John Vanco and the Blues and Jazz Festival committee hope to do much more.
They are watching CDC, Pennsylvania and Erie guidelines closely to figure out what may be safe and appropriate.
Although public parks are reopening in Erie, Vanco says a large scale event at wide-open Frontier Park, with no crowd boundaries, is not likely.
The committee is contemplating a hybrid Blues and Jazz Festival at a controlled access venue, with a smaller audience. Others would be able to watch the musical performances through live streaming.
Blues and Jazz Fest officials are currently checking out venue possibilities.
They are also considering delaying the 2021 Blues and Jazz Fest from August to September, although dates have not been finalized.
For now Blues and Jazz Festival fans need a little patience.
Erie News Now will keep you informed as festival planners weigh the safety factors and finalize plans.