Flaming Foliage Festival canceled due to virus
Trending
RENOVO -- For the first time in over seven decades, the annual PA State Flaming Foliage Festival in Renovo has been canceled.
It was a heavy-hearted yet unanimous vote by the Flaming Foliage Festival Committee on Sunday evening, as the theme of the night was simply "too many unknowns," due specifically to the pandemic.
Although the definitive decision came Sunday evening during the meeting, playing the hand that they had been dealt basically took the resolution out of FFF's hands.
Not a single school, including host school Bucktail, chose representatives to come to Renovo in October to take part in the weekend. The same holds true for high school bands; not one has committed to the 2020 festival.
The committee realizes that if schools can open up on time in the fall, choosing a FFF participant would not be at the top of their list of things to do.
In addition, onlly a handful of vendors for the craft show have responded to inquiries.
It was noted by chair-person Pattie Rauch who said the majority of these vendors are well-experienced and their indecision to this point reveals that the, too, are unsure of what October will bring.
Having had to cancel previous fundraisers as they face the inability to plan future ones, the committee has under half of the $30,000 budget needed to hold the 2020 FFF weekend.
A moral obligation as well to look out for the safety of minors played a role in the conclusion. Would host families who typically open their doors for queens and escorts be willing to do so this fall? Would a parent want to send their minor child to a family that they have never met during current times? Would it be permitted or should Renovo invite thousands of people into the community be the correct thing? Again, the word "unknown" was repeated often.
The committee will meet again in late July to review current Pennsylvania guidelines in hopes that a scaled down version of the weekend might take place. Possibilities such as a smaller number of vendors and a smaller Clinton County themed event were suggested. Any event held at that time would not hold a "Parade of Queens," therefore not be designated a Flaming Foliage weekend.
Keystone Central School District Superintendent Jackie Martin said if schools are permitted to participate with outside entities come October that Keystone Central certainly will participate in any manner that they can.