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Greater Lafayette Stars and Stripes Celebration Canceled Over COVID-19 Concerns

Lafayette Citizens Band Facebook

 

The annual Fourth of July Stars and Stripes festival -- a summer staple in downtown Lafayette -- has been cancelled for this year, with local officials citing COVID-19 safety concerns over crowd size. 

Lafayette City Clerk Cindy Murray, who chairs the Stars and Stripes committee, said the decision was made in consultation with the health department and other city and county officials. 

“I know that July 4th is the day that we’re supposed to be at a hundred percent, but being able to social distance down at Riehle Plaza is just not going to be able to happen,” Murray said.

The final stage of Indiana’s reopening plan, set to begin July 4, allows gatherings of 250 people or more using social distancing guidelines, and permits events like fairs and festivals to resume. 

“Up on the Myers Bridge, people are just going to be shoulder to shoulder, even if we’re just shooting off fireworks,” said Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski. “There’s just going to be no way to keep people apart, and that’s just too risky right here at the end of this.” 

The Indiana State Department of Health reported 380 COVID-19 cases in Tippecanoe County Wednesday. Tippecanoe County Health Officer Dr. Jeremy Adler said the “average daily incidence” of cases in the county from week to week had decreased from a high point in May. He also said the lower case totals announced over the past few days -- two on Tuesday, and three on Monday -- could be attributed to a lag in reporting over the holiday weekend.