Hampdenfest Canceled For Second Year In A Row

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — For the 2nd twelvemonth successful a row, determination volition beryllium nary Hampdenfest. Organizers connected Friday announced the thoroughfare festival known for toilet vessel races, unrecorded punk and indie rock, and an eclectic premix of vendors volition not beryllium backmost successful 2021.

A large origin is the ongoing pandemic and the emergence successful cases attributed to the Delta variant of COVID-19.

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“While COVID vaccination rates successful Baltimore City proceed to stay low, and the emergence of variant forms of the microorganism person resulted successful a disturbing uptick successful cases, adjacent among those afloat vaccinated, we are not comfy with the organizing of a ample thoroughfare festival,” organizers wrote successful a blog post announcing the decision.

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The organizers besides wrote they did not person capable clip and wealth to signifier the festival. In past years, readying and fundraising person begun successful January for Hampdenfest, which is typically scheduled successful September.

They besides said they did not privation to disrupt businesses and restaurants that person had to physique spaces extracurricular to accommodate customers.

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The festival, founded successful 2002, is sponsored by the Hampden Village Merchants Association and the Hampden Community Council. The 2020 variation was besides canceled owed to COVID-19.

CBS Baltimore Staff