No Jazz Festival

**stasu1213** · August-21-21, 07:54 AM

I understand that the Jazz festival this year will be viral. Who make the decision to which festival is allowed to be held in Detroit and which will not be held? The Rib and Soul festival was held at Hart Plaza last week. The African World Festival and Dream Cruise are occurring this week. Both events are large with people are gathering. Why will the Jazz Festival be viral and not live?

**DetroitSoldier** · August-21-21, 08:02 AM

Hart Plaza is partially closed due to repairs in progress. This is severely limiting the footprint available for events. Organizers have to balance a lot of logistics and without a suitable venue, it may not be fiscally feasible to hold some of the larger events we are accustomed to. Their decisions may not be entirely COVID related at all.

**jcole** · August-21-21, 08:35 AM

You're correct; they came out several days ago and said while they are being cautious about Covid, it's a lot about the construction at Hart Plaza that fueled their decision

Originally Posted by DetroitSoldier

Hart Plaza is partially closed due to repairs in progress. This is severely limiting the footprint available for events. Organizers have to balance a lot of logistics and without a suitable venue, it may not be fiscally feasible to hold some of the larger events we are accustomed to. Their decisions may not be entirely COVID related at all.

**jcole** · August-21-21, 08:38 AM

From the Freep

"The primary reason for the pivot is because Hart Plaza, where the festival is performed, is under construction and won't be completed in time. A second option would be Campus Martius, but that would make overcrowding in downtown Detroit another problem - which would happen at a time when officials are newly worried about public health problems.

https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/det...source=twitter

**stasu1213** · August-21-21, 10:03 AM

Why did construction started so late in Hart Plaza? Construction should had started in the late Winter early Spring instead of Summer

**jcole** · August-21-21, 10:48 AM

Covid issues?

Originally Posted by stasu1213

Why did construction started so late in Hart Plaza? Construction should had started in the late Winter early Spring instead of Summer

**Zacha341** · August-21-21, 11:12 AM

^ The construction was slow pre-COVID. I talked with a regular downtown vendor and he told me that since 2018 the Plaza was in severe decay, with a homeless problem on their lower levels.

So the clean out and repairs started but of course were slowed due to COVID as some developments were.

**Honky Tonk** · August-21-21, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

...with a homeless problem on their lower levels.

It's time for them to leave Detroit and hit 8 mile! Oh, wait...

**EastsideAl** · August-22-21, 02:39 AM

Due to the construction, plus Covid and finances, they had already cut the festival back to 3 stages. The one in Campus Martius/Cadillac Square, the Hart Plaza Amphitheater, and another temporary stage that's usually set up in Hart Plaza but could have been moved elsewhere.

But, as I understand it from people I know who are involved, with the construction in the plaza having started late, a lack of clarity and cooperation from the city, rising Covid levels again, and some significant concern from artists, staff, and volunteers, moving to an online virtual presentation seemed like the only real alternative again. It was either that or cancel entirely.

Hopefully they can keep the ship afloat and come back next year with a full festival in a renovated Hart Plaza.