The Seymour City Jam downtown summer concert series is the latest event to be canceled because of the rise in COVID-19 cases across the state.
Bri Roll, executive director of Seymour Main Street, announced Wednesday the two remaining concerts scheduled for 2020 will not happen this year.
They included shows by Nashville recording artist Sweet Tea Trio on Aug. 20 and the Nashville Yacht Club Band on Sept. 17. Previous shows in June and July by Naked Karate Girls and Parrots of the Caribbean already had been canceled.
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Through midnight Tuesday, there have been 69,975 positive cases of COVID-19 and 2,805 deaths from the virus in the state. Those totals include 556 positive COVID-19 cases and four deaths from the virus in Jackson County.
Roll, who is new to her position, said it wasn’t an easy call to make, but she feels it was the right one.
After discussing plans with the Jackson County Health Department, Roll said the Seymour Main Street Board of Directors didn’t feel it would be able to adhere to guidance set forth by the state to ensure a safe event for the community.
Those measures involve the ability to require social distancing and face masks even though the shows are outdoors on the JCB Pavilion at Crossroads Community Park.
Although Indiana’s Back on Track Plan allows for outdoor events, Roll said it would be difficult to enforce face masks, especially in August heat.
“By uniting with our local health officials and partners, we will responsibly adhere to a course of action which positively impacts the reduction of cases of COVID-19,” she said.
This would have been the eighth year for the City Jam shows, which are free to the community and attract between 400-500 people.
Roll is already starting to get excited about next year’s City Jam concerts though.
All of this year’s scheduled performers have agreed to come back for shows in 2021.
“We will eagerly look forward to next season and are optimistically planning for an outstanding 2021 City Jam lineup,” she said.