Valley event cancellations, closures mount amidst coronavirus pandemic
PHOENIX - More and more events across the Valley are now affected by the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Below is a list of events cancellation and non-school related closures, arranged in alphabetical order.
Apache Junction
City officials say large special events are suspended until the end of March.
Chandler
All Downtown Chandler events, including Friday Night Live, Downtown Chandler Farmers Market, Yoga in the Park, and Yoga on the square are cancelled until further notice.
Also, the annual Ostrich Festival is postponed, for the first time in 32 years.
Event organizers say they are working with the City of Chandler to find an alternative date for the festival. All purchased tickets will be honored for the rescheduled festival, but refunds will be given at a later time for festival goers who can no longer attend the festival on the rescheduled date.
"This was not an easy decision and certainly not one we took lightly,” said Terri Kimble, President and CEO of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, in the statement.
The festival was originally set to take place from March 13 to March 15.
Gilbert
The City of Gilbert has announced the closure of all of the amenities at their public parks like playgrounds and athletic courts starting at 8 A.M. on March 28. Restrooms and open spaces are still open to the public.
Great Wolf Lodge
A spokesperson for Great Wolf Lodge says all of its resorts will close, starting at 2:00 p.m. on March 15.
Originally, resort officials say they plan to re-open on April 2. However, it was announced on March 26 that the closure will be extended to May 19.
According to its latest statement, guests with reservations during the revised closure period will be given a full refund, or be ofered the opportunity to reschedule to a future date. Guests who reschedule by April 5 will be given a complimentary $50 resort credit for each night booked, if the revised stay falls within the 2020 calendar year.
Great Wolf Lodge has a location in Scottsdale.
Luke Days
Luke Air Force Base announced Friday its Luke Days 2020 Airshow that was scheduled for March 21-22 has been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.
Phoenix
Mayor Kate Gallego announced that all Phoenix Senior Centers will be closed until further notice, beginning on Friday. In addition, all public programs at city libraries will be halted immediately, and City Hall will be open for essential business only, starting on Monday.
Phoenix Art Museum
Officials with the Phoenix Art Museum announced Friday the cancellation of all on-site and off-site museum programs and events, including daily public and school tours, until April 3.
The museum itself, meanwhile, will remain open as a "place of calm and respite".
Phoenix Children's Museum
Officials say the museum will be closed from March 14 to March 31.
Phoenix Pride
Phoenix Pride (From Archive)
On Friday, officials with Phoenix Pride announce they are postponing the annual LGBTQ+ parade and festival that were originally scheduled for April 4 and 5.
The decision to postpone the event was announced Friday afternoon. As recently as Tuesday, officials vowed to hold the event as scheduled.
The festival has been rescheduled for November 7-8 at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix. The parade is scheduled for November 7.
According to the Phoenix Pride website, pride parades are traditionally held during the month of June to commemorate an LGBTQ+ rights protest that happened in June 1969. Phoenix Pride officials say normally, they hold their annual parade in April for heat-related reasons.
Phoenix St. Patrick's Day Parade
The St. Patrick's Day Parade, originally scheduled for March 14, has been postponed. Organizers say they will host the festivities "at a later date," but did not provide an exact date for the rescheduled festivities.
Phoenix Symphony
The remainder of their 2019-2020 season has been cancelled. A number of musicians, administrative staff and other personnel have been laid off while those still working have suffered significant salary reductions.
Post Malone
The Post Malone concert at Talking Stick Resort Arena, originally scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on March 15, has been postponed. Crews are working to reschedule the concert for some point in the near future. Ticket holders are encouraged to hold onto tickets as they will be good for the rescheduled date.
Surprise
All park amenities and facilities have been closed until further notice, according to the City of Surprise Twitter account.
Tempe
City officials say public special events and most public meetings within the city will be cancelled through the end of April. A list of events, meetings, programs and classes affected are available on their website. Officials say some of the events cancelled may be rescheduled, while some may not be.
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In order to protect yourself from a possible infection, the CDC recommends:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.