FROM THE WEST VIRGINIA ITALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

 

In an effort to keep the public well informed of the status of the 2020 West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival, the festival board of directors has the following statements for immediate release.

 

The West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival Board of Directors has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 guidelines set forth by the governor of West Virginia, and the CDC, especially pertaining to large outdoor events such as concerts, fairs, and festivals. As of today, according to the governor’s website, entertainment venues with large gatherings such as sporting events, concerts, and festivals have no timeline for restrictions being lifted. Also, the Festival Board is in complete agreement that crowds of this size may not be safe or sensible by September. As would be expected, a festival of this size requires many months of planning and fundraising in order to be successfully executed. With just over 3 months remaining until Labor Day Weekend, it is becoming more challenging to complete contracting and agreements with vendors, entertainers, and production companies. Because of this tight timeline, the Board of Directors has agreed that modifications must be made to this year’s event.  Therefore, Festival committees are working diligently to develop exciting virtual activities to keep the essence of the Festival alive and allow for social media interaction and participation.

 

Tyler Terango, Chairman of the Board of Directors says, “Because we know that the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival is an event that has been anticipated by and celebrated with thousands of people for over 42 years during Labor Day weekend in Clarksburg, West Virginia, it is the Board’s intention to design a plan to keep the essence of the festival alive in 2020 while ensuring the safety of all those involved. Although it will not be possible to present the 42nd Festival on the streets of Clarksburg this September in the fashion we have come to expect, we will make certain that the modifications being made will be interactive digitally and committees remain open to many ideas for new live events to occur if guidelines regarding crowd size and safety are relaxed. Please continue to check the Festival Website and Facebook Page for timely updates on digital activities and any additional live events when and if they become available.  We value each and every sponsor, vendor, volunteer, and participant of our Festival family and we know we could never accomplish this unusual change in events without your loyalty and financial support. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

 

All 2020 scholarships that were announced will be awarded by August 15th in time for the start of fall semester classes. Festival Committees will immediately begin planning the 2021 Festival where Reginia Maria XLIII and her court will be introduced and all events associated with the Queen and her Court will take place. In addition, the Festival Honorees that have been selected for 2020 will now become the 2021 Festival Honorees complete with dinners and awards being presented at that time. We are looking forward to returning to the streets of Clarksburg and once again being in full force for the 43rd Annual West Virginia Italian Heritage on Labor Day Weekend in 2021.