Boulevardia music, maker, ‘taps and tastes’ festival canceled as COVID-19 restrictions extended
April 15, 2020 | Startland News Staff
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop.
One of Kansas City’s premiere public showcases of music, makers, beer and food will go dark this summer, organizers announced Tuesday, making Boulevardia one of the city’s first big entertainment cancelations since the Big 12 tournament was benched in March.
“Providing a safe, secure, and healthy environment for our pop-up party nation is our top priority,” an announcement from Boulevardia read. “We realize the impact this decision makes on our charity partners, vendors, makers, and patrons. This decision was made with respect to the ever-changing public health situation and with the goal of allowing our community time to focus on their personal health and well-being and in the interest of bringing this festival back in 2021.”
While Kansas City’s Stay at Home order was set to expire April 24, Mayor Quinton Lucas indicated this week that he expected the restriction to be extended through at least mid-May to help combat the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) across the metro.
Boulevardia was set for June 19-20 along Grand Boulevard at Crown Center, where it had been expected to move this summer after six years in the Kansas City Stockyards District in the West Bottoms.
All tickets and hotel packages purchased through the Boulevardia website are set to be refunded with no further action needed, organizers said.
Click here for more details on refunds and the official cancelation announcement.
The two-day “urban street festival” was set to feature three stages and a “Royals Silent Disco,” as well as a Makers Market and a host of beer and food vendors. Ride 2 Boulevardia, a charity bike ride partnered with Boulevardia and expected to draw 600 cyclists, also was canceled though donations are still being accepted on behalf of Children’s Mercy and Cancer Action.
A musical lineup for the 2020 Boulevardia showcase had not been released before the cancelation, but in 2019 the festival featured such acts as Young the Giant, Fitz and the Tantrums, Dashboard Confessional, lovelytheband, DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Greeting Committee.
“It’s been said, ‘the comeback is always stronger than the setback.’ We believe that to be true and we believe this festival and our community will come back stronger than ever before,” organizers said in the cancelation announcement. “Hang in there, Kansas City. We’ll be raising a glass together again soon.”
Boulevardia is expected to return in 2021.
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