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| Raychel Rork |
Raychel Rork, president of the event, announced the cancellation on the event Facebook page noting that the organizers have already begun working on the event for next year.
The annual event, which would have marked the 41st festival from July 10 through 12 this year, has been negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic, the Facebook post on artinthepark.com says.
“For the past seven weeks our team has explored all options and if there were any assurances that there was a safe way forward we would take it, but at this point we believe this is the right choice,” the post on Facebook reads. “We feel it is no longer practical to continue with an event this size at this time. The health and safety of artists, attendees, our community, and crew always comes first.”
One of the largest community events in the community usually draws thousands of people to the city each July to visit and shop at the more than 400 booths which line the streets selling everything from fine oil paintings and hand crafted jewelry to tiny miniature creations aimed at the younger crowd. The festival has been the starting point for many young art entrepreneurs who had their first success at the section devoted to young artists in Kellogg Park
Art In The Park began in 1979 when art hobbyist and long-time resident Dianne Quinn invited friends to work on their art efforts outdoors in Kellogg Park.
Following that first gathering of about 35 hobbyists and artists, the event continued to grow into the event honored as one of the best art festivals in the state. Rork, Quinn's daughter, assumed the management role from her mother when Quinn retired.
“We understand that this news is compounded by the sheer number of events that have been canceled leading to so much uncertainty and economic heartache,” continued the post on the official Art In The Park page. “We do appreciate your support, and your trust and hope above all else to be back better than ever next year!”
The event has already been scheduled for July 9-11 next year.
