Three Rivers cancels festival after COVID pandemic

Three Rivers cancels festival after COVID pandemic

Good evening ... i'm hunter petroviak thanks for joining us.the three rivers festival in fort wayne is officially cancelled.the decision comes after months of deliberating by the non profit's board members who will now have to look towards 20-21.fox 55's chris mullooly is live in fort wayne.so chris... what did officials say was the main reason for cancelling the festival?hunter... its the safety of not only those who would be there... but working as well.the festival usually draws hundreds of thousands of people...and even though the festival would be after 'phase 5' of the 5 step hoosier plan...they're taking the side of caution.

Nats?the sights and sounds... ?nats?will be missed this year.

" its just the worst feeling ever to have to cancel "jack hammer with the three rivers festival announcing thursday...the second biggest festival in indiana won't happen in 20-20."it was just too great a risk for us to go any further so it was a combined decision "a decision taking weeks to come up with... hammer says he and board members were on countless webinars.speaking with city leaders and other festival organizers around the country...they realized it wasn't worth it."

It just seemed like it was a bit out of step with what we usually do "hammer says the safety of volunteers and the normal crowds that show up?nats?would prove too risky..."it was a very busy time a very stressful time "another stress... the finances surrounding the festival.

Hammer says organizers didn't want to set up and plan for the event... especially if the 5 part plan from governor holcomb is extended.the set up alone would be 100 thousand dollars...on top of bills they're already having to pay.

" bills are gonna range from 160 to 200 thousand dollars ' the crowds will have to wait ?nats?until 20-21... which hammer believes..

Will be the best one yet."i got a vengence in me that i think we're gonna have a great festival and we're gonna work hard to make it the best we can" hammer says the festival can't go on... but the board is trying to work out ideas in order to have something that weekend...whether that be online cooking lessons... a scavenger hunt for kids... or some other virtual components.

Reporting live ... chris mulloly... fox 55 news.