Mayfest postponed to September

CHENEY – With any luck, the Mayfest celebration may coin a new phrase this year — “May-tember.”

Or maybe not, but the if all goes well with efforts to reopen the state amid the coronavirus pandemic, organizers hope Cheney’s eighth-annual celebration of community will take place this fall. Originally scheduled for the second weekend in May, Cheney Merchants Association secretary Douglas LeBar said they are moving the festival to Sept. 25-26 — which would coincide with the opening of instruction at Eastern Washington University.

Much of that hope is pinned on what measures local and state officials will keep in place to prevent the spread of the virus and the severe acute respiratory disease it carries, COVID-19. Even if the disease spread is slowed and the state sees a two-week downward trend in cases – conditions state officials have said could lead to the easing of stay-at-home restrictions and the reopening of non-essential businesses and activities — health officials have cautioned that social distancing practices may need to remain in place, possibly through the rest of the year.

LeBar said there is the possibility of limits being placed on the size of gatherings despite the relaxing of social distancing requirements, something that would likely mean the cancellation of Mayfest until spring 2021.

“Either way, we wouldn’t be able to do it,” he said. “We’re hoping though that will not be the case.”

One of the concerns about postponing the event was whether or not festival organizers could get the vendors, music acts and entertainment providers to recommit to a new date. LeBar said they have been able to do that, and if allowed to go forward will once again have something for everybody in downtown Cheney.

The popular Corn Hole tournament will return, along with the vintage car show, Artist’s Alley, the children’s petting zoo and many other arts and crafts and food vendors. Many of the main stage performers from last year’s festival are slated to return, and LeBar said this year’s event will be more “cultural” in context.

“It’s pretty similar to what we had last year,” he said. “It’s going to be very festive.”

While logistics may be a concern, financing for the festival shouldn’t be as the Merchants Association was awarded $23,518 in funding from the city’s Lodging Tax Fund in February, before the pandemic broke out in the state. Since then, the city has issued an award of funding to the Cheney Rodeo Association, but placed a caveat on it and any future disseminations that the event has to go forward before money is released.

Even if social distancing is relaxed and limitations on large gatherings aren’t imposed, LeBar said Mayfest in September still could be canceled if it appears people aren’t readily taking part in similar events out of fears of new infections. Part of Mayfest planning involves working with county health officials and city staff to make sure sanitation measures are available under normal conditions, he added, and those would continue.

“We want people to feel safe and secure, and we’ll do whatever it takes to keep people safe,” LeBar said. “The only reason we would hold it (Mayfest) is if people feel comfortable in large crowds.”

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.