Coronavirus Concerns Cause The Decision
In a completely expected move, Hermosa Beach has cancelled its annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Scheduled for Saturday, March 14, it will not take place due to coronavirus concerns.
It joins many other cities across the country in canceling or – in the case of Chicago, postponing – St. Paddy’s parades. Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Denver and other places have canceled their Saturday parades. In San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter block party ShamROCK has also been canceled.
Nearly every public event in the world is doing the same; in the USA, March Madness – a signature American event – has been canceled. The NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball have all suspended play until further notice and the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals in Indio, CA, have been moved from April to October.
Hermosa simply did what other cities and events have done as officials are taking the cautious approach with the virus. It also responded to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request that all public events in the state be canceled.
Steve Collins of Hermosa Cyclery is attempting to get the event postponed until April, but is not optimistic that will happen.
While disappointed, many local residents are taking the news in stride, posting comments such as “well it was going to rain anyway” on Facebook.
The parade, while small, has been a popular local event for years, brining out people who lined up along the route down Pier Ave., and along Hermosa Ave. Participants included bands on trucks, which always got the single people in the party mood to hit the bars later on Pier Plaza.
Instead for 2020, they will just go straight to the bars.
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