Amid the numerous events canceled and postponed due to the coronavirus, it will surprise no one to learn that the 2020 Fremont Solstice Parade has also been, in their words, “postponed.” Some may prefer to call it a cancellation as the new date will be June of next year.
We received this from the Fremont Arts Council:
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the postponement of the Fremont Solstice Parade and Celebration at Gas Works until June 2021.
After assessing the current and projected data related to COVID-19 and hearing from King County Public Health and the Seattle Office of Special Events, the Board of Directors felt the wisest and safest choice for the FAC and the community would be postponement to next year.
Looking ahead, the Fremont Arts Council will need your support throughout this year, more than it ever has before.
The Solstice Parade is the largest source of revenue for the Fremont Arts Council, and cancellation of the event leaves them with a major budget hole. For those wishing to help them out, the FAC has these suggestions:
- The Green Hat in the Fremont Solstice Parade and the Beer Garden at the Fremont Solstice Celebration at Gas Works have been the FAC’s main source of funding for the year. Without it, our budget for 2020-2021 is very small. Please consider joining or renewing your membership OR making a donation!
- We are brainstorming how to add new revenue streams for the FAC and we are writing grants to support the FAC and its events. If you have an interest in developing funding sources or grant writing, please help us by joining Dayna and the Development Team.
- We were chosen by the UW Human Centered Design and Engineering Department to help update our website! If you have web development skills and want to learn more about this project, email Lymarie at [email protected].
- Help us CELEBRATE!!
Like many event organizers forced to cancel amid this pandemic, the FAC is hoping to create some sort of online Solstice Parade. To that end, they are looking for “artists, members, sponsors, and volunteers as well as media content and video editors.” Interested persons should contact Henry at [email protected].
The announcement ends with:
We don’t want June 20th to pass us by wishing for what we can’t have. We may not be able to gather en masse but we CAN still celebrate the Solstice. We want to safely share Fremont Solstice with our families, our friends, our community and the world. We want to see your celebrations, your joy, your rituals, your art! We want to hear your stories! We may not be able to fill the streets but we can still share with each other our celebration at the return of the Sun!
Lastly, stay healthy and stay safe! We look forward to creating an online Fremont Solstice Parade and Celebration with you and we look forward to celebrating with everyone in person at Luminata on September 19th.
With Care and Hope,
The Fremont Arts Council Board of Directors
For folks who have already purchased VIP seats or vendor space, the FAC will be getting in touch shortly regarding refunds.
And with that, another ritual of summer falls by the wayside. Following close on the heels of the Solstice Parade here in our neighborhood is, of course, the July Fourth celebration at Gas Works. One wonders if we will soon receive notice of cancellation of that event as well.