[ad_1]
AUSTIN (KXAN) – Amid growing COVID-19 cases and following Austin-Travis County’s Level 5 designation last week, venues and live entertainment series in the area have postponed events or changed their safety protocols in response.
The Austin Gay and Lesbian Pride Foundation announced Wednesday afternoon that it had canceled the Austin Pride Parade 2021 and noted an indefinite postponement. The parade has now been postponed for the second year in a row.
The 2020 celebration would have marked the 30th anniversary of the Austin Pride Parade. Before the postponement on Wednesday, the celebration on this Saturday was scheduled to commemorate the anniversary.
RELATED: Austin Pride weekend was canceled days before the celebration as COVID-19 cases skyrocket in the area
The Austin Pride Parade isn’t the only public event to be postponed in the area this week. Austin City Limits Radio announced Monday that its Blues on the Green performances, slated for August 10-11, have also been postponed amid rising COVID-19 cases in the area.
KXAN also spoke to Visit Austin CEO and President Tom Noonan, who said Keller Williams canceled its August event that would have brought about 6,000 people to Austin. Noonan said a care association also canceled its event in August due to COVID-19 concerns. This event was expected to attract around 2,000 people.
Visit Austin expected the decline to rebound as hotel occupancy levels normalized. The group says this surge will likely slow that process down. Now they look to next year.
“Our hoteliers tell us that they have a lot to do this year. They told us their books were looking good for 2022 and 2023, ”Noonan said.
The opening ceremony of Waterloo Park, originally planned for Saturday, has been postponed due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the region.
“With rising COVID cases and Austin’s re-entry into Phase 5, Waterloo Greenway has made the difficult but necessary decision to postpone all of the opening ceremonies scheduled for this Saturday,” representatives said in a statement. “This includes the postponement of the ribbon cutting ceremony and the inauguration of the land, the daily program and the nightly concert show.”
While an opening day celebration has been postponed to an unspecified date, the park will still be open to visitors this weekend from 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Cancellations and postponements aren’t the only changes to Austin’s live entertainment and events scene, however. The Texas Tribune announced on Wednesday morning that their annual Texas Tribune Festival, slated for September 20-25, will return entirely virtual this year.
Other Austin venues have detected COVID-19 security measures as the live performances continue.
Representatives of the Bass Concert Hall informed KXAN that Wednesday masks are still “strongly recommended” for guests and employees of the venue regardless of vaccination status. Further measures are contactless payment stations and hand disinfectant dispensers, which are located throughout the venue.
Call for #CancelACL Music Festival emerges as COVID-19 cases increase in the Austin area
Long Center officials told KXAN in an email that masks will be required across the venue if guests are not sitting with their groups, and social distancing measures will be in place. Officials noted that no events are currently planned in the building.
“Given the recent public health trends and the Level 5 designation, we ask everyone to do their part and wear masks both indoors and outdoors unless they are in their group,” the statement said partially.
KXAN also reached out to representatives from Circuit of the Americas, The Mohawk, Stubb’s Bar-BQ, and Austin City Limits at the Moody Center. We will update this story as soon as you get back to us.
[ad_2]
