A three-day music festival in Stillwater, Oklahoma, kicked off Thursday that concerned city officials will encourage the spread of the coronavirus.
The annual Weedstock Festival is expected to draw thousands of people to Stillwater, which is located about 62 miles west of Tulsa, according to NBC branch KJRH. The festival, held at Tumbleweed Dance Hall, will feature three days of live performances. A recorded message in the Tumbleweed Dance Hall notes “we aim to follow the CDC guidelines” on “social distance” and “face covering and personal hygiene. Do your part in keeping others and yourself safe.”
Singer Parker McCollum, who had been the headliner for Friday’s show, said in a statement Wednesday that he was canceling his performance after testing positive for the coronavirus.
“After I realized this morning that I could not taste or smell anything, I went to test for COVID and results came back showing that I was positive for the virus,” he said in a tweetje. “My deepest apologies to the fans and the locations that relied on me to perform. I absolutely believe the shows should continue and I wish more than anything I could be there to play them.”
On Wednesday, Mayor Stillwater Will Joyce again displayed an emergency declaration limit the number of people that can be inside bars and nightclubs. The guidelines also state that tables and chairs should be placed to allow a minimum of 6 feet of space between groups, and dance floors should remain closed.
Masks should be worn at all times if patrons are not sitting. The statement is in effect until Nov. 30.
In a series of tweets last week, the mayor said he did not think it was the right time to have a music festival.
“Because it’s outside the city limits, city officials have reached out to @TumbleweedOK management, talking to Payne Co-commissioners, Payne Co Health and others about this event. It is not the right time. for thousands of people to gather for a 3-day music festival, “he wrote in a tweetje Aug 10
Cary McBride, the owner of the Tumbleweed, told the Stillwater News Press, ‘I told the Chamber (of Commerce),’ We’re putting this thing together, or we’re just closing the doors for good. ‘His place had already canceled one major music festival this year. The location told the newspaper that it had hired extra security to prevent groups from coming together.
Mayor Joyce tweeted that the festival, which ends Saturday, could disrupt local schools and universities from the personal lesson, and could put a strain on the hospital and the police department. According to the state Department of Health, there were 51,746 coronavirus cases and 715 deaths Friday. There were 687 cases in Stillwater.
“On a more personal level, I ask people to consider the overall well-being of our community and make the responsible and careful decision not to attend this event at this time. I love live music and had a blast at Calf Fry’s. last year. But now is not the time, ” he said in a separate tweet.
