For a second year, the City of Menominee is cancelling the Waterfront Festival.  Monday night the city council accepted the recommendation of the Waterfront Festival Committee to cancel this year’s festival.  Festival Director Nancy Douglas says the biggest obstacle to holding the festival is the State of Michigan’s limit of attendance at outdoor gatherings.

That 300 person limit was extended last Friday to May 24th as Michigan continues to be the hot spot for COVID in the nation.  Douglas says there are rumors that limit may be increased to 700 or 800 in June or July, but that would not help much for a festival that traditionally draws thousands.  The Festival’s state liquor license would require the state’s gathering limits be followed.

Douglas also pointed out in order to run a festival in August, contracts for such things as fireworks, entertainment and tents and porta johns would need to be signed by the end of April, obligating the city to at least $40,000 in costs whether the festival could be run or not.

Douglas says the festival committee will continue to meet and work towards a festival next year.  She says the time will be used to examine whether changes or refreshing of the festival needs to be done.  Ideas from the public will be welcomed.