Ironwood summer events in limbo

By TOM LAVENTURE

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Ironwood — Planning for summer events is difficult in times of uncertainty.

The Ironwood Chamber of Commerce has not officially canceled the citywide rummage sale scheduled for Saturday, June 6, but it’s highly unlikely it will be held, said Michael Meyer, chamber director. The chamber board will make the decision to cancel or to move it to the fall, he said.

“It’s just coming up too soon,” Meyer said of the event in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. 

There are usually a lot of calls about the event that was posted around six weeks ago, he said. There haven’t been any calls and so right now it’s just not being promoted.

The 2020 Festival Ironwood on July 15-18 at the Historic Depot Park is distant enough that it will likely go on as scheduled, Meyer said. The key thing is that it’s either going to be held or it will be canceled, not moved, he said.

“We can’t change the date because of all the contracts, musician agreements and tent rentals,” Meyer said. 

The Festival of Ironwood organizing committee with co-chairs Keith Johnson and Will Corcoran will meet at the end of May to decide on the fate of this year’s festival, he said. 

“It hasn’t been decided yet,” Meyers said.

The COVID-19 shutdown order and its potential impact on summer events are a factor as it would not be possible to control social distancing at the festival, he said. There may be other factors to consider and the committee will have a better outlook in late May.

If the Festival of Ironwood is held then all events will take place on the same days as previously scheduled and will be posted on the chamber website and Facebook page, Meyers said. 

“It will essentially be the same schedule as last year but maybe with a new band or two,” Meyers said. “There will be a new concession under the tent selling food, but by and large the depot events would be the same.”

Any canceled summer events would be difficult to move to the fall for many reasons, he said. There may be many rescheduled events in the fall and that could affect attendance.

Summers are also a time of family reunions that are sometimes scheduled with class reunions or local festivals.

“I usually get calls at this time of year, but I haven’t had any,” Meyer said. “It’s a time of uncertainty.”

For more information on the Ironwood Festival and to receive an arts, crafts or trade show registration form, contact the chamber at 906- 932-1122, Keith Johnson at 906-364-4316, or Will Corcoran at 906-364-5672. Email the chamber at [email protected] or visit online at ironwoodchamber.org.