The Silver Room Block Party has been canceled due to concerns over the novel coronavirus. The iconic event held in Chicago’s Hyde Park, which has attracted crowds of 50,000 people annually, was scheduled for July 18, 2020.
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In a statement, event organizers said that “with so much uncertainty, the focus now should be on people staying safe and taking care of themselves.”
Organizers added that the current climate has not been conducive for seeking sponsorships and contracts with vendors as both Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Centers for Disease Control are discouraging large gatherings and festivals indefinitely.
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“This pause will give us time to regroup, plan, strategize, restructure, and come together to produce The Silver Room Block Party 2021, which we hope will be the best ever,” said Eric Williams, who founded The Silver Room Block Party back in 2002. “I know this is not great news, but I wanted you to know as soon as possible.”
Summer 2020 Events Canceled and Postponed
The Silver Room Block Party joins a growing list of events and festivals that have been either canceled or postponed as a result of the coronavirus.
Most recently, organizers from Toronto’s Caribana canceled the summer event after more than 50 years.
In light of the current epidemic, health experts warn that it could take some time before it’s safe to go to live concerts and festivals.
American Dr. Zeke Emanuel, an oncologist, and bioethicist at the Center for American Progress estimated that “larger gatherings” could safely resume in “fall 2021 at the earliest” during a New York Times Magazine round-table discussion.