The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra has announced that the 2020 South Shore Summer Music Festival, set to begin in Crown Point on Saturday evening, July 25, has been suspended for the year. The annual festival of free summer concerts performed by the Northwest Indiana Symphony has been a popular summer staple, offering the opportunity for people in six communities to bring their lawn chairs and blankets, to relax and enjoy light classical, patriotic, Broadway and movie music in an outdoor setting.
“Given the overwhelming uncertainty of the current situation, including the need to follow CDC guidelines on social distancing and the continued recommendations for those 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions to remain cautious, the South Shore Arts board, which manages the Symphony, has decided to avoid putting anybody at risk through these concerts,” said John Cain, South Shore Arts/Symphony Executive Director.
This year’s South Shore Summer Festival was scheduled to be performed on the lawn at Franciscan Communities in Crown Point, Central Park in Griffith, Wolf Lake Pavilion in Hammond, Redar Park in Schererville, Central Park Plaza in Valparaiso and, new this year, Fox Pointe in Lansing, Illinois.
“It saddens us all to have to take this course of action, but we do it out of concern for our audiences, our musicians and our staff,” said Karen Raab, South Shore Arts Board President. “We hope to be back again next summer with a revived Festival!”
The South Shore Arts board also voted to temporarily suspend any further planning of the 2020-21 concert season until there is a clearer understanding of what conditions will be. In the meantime, South Shore Arts and the Symphony will continue to explore new avenues for providing Northwest Indiana with a musical platform in a safe manner.
Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
