Union Day will not be held June 20 as originally planned after the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted to postpone the event due to coronavirus.
Susanne Belk, who serves on the chamber board, said even if the social distancing restrictions were lifted May 25 as planned, there would not be enough time to plan the annual festival.
“We knew with the new restrictions on Newton County there’d be no way to get something together,” she said.
The chamber board did consider holding the festival with social distancing measures in place, Belk said, but they ultimately decided the precautions would be too restrictive.
“I just don’t see them letting us have a big get together,” she said. “And it’ll be too hot to wear masks.”
Currently, Belk said plans for Union Day are on hold until the coronavirus threat is under control and social distancing measures are lifted. No date has been set yet, but the board is considering holding the festival in the fall if conditions allow.
This is the second time in recent years that Union’s chamber festival will not be held on time. In 2017, the chamber canceled Country Day, the first time the festival was not held in 40 years due to concerns of not having enough voluteers and other logistical issues.
The festival was rebranded as Country Day in 2018 and was moved to Father’s Day weekend that year and last year.
