The National Cherry Festival has not yet made a decision about its 2020 festival, according to its executive director - but is closely monitoring the situation.

Several area event organizers have begun cancelling festivals and events well into June, including the Cedar Polka Festival, Leland Wine & Food Festival, and Suds & Sun. Tourism leaders have predicted the summer tourism will be a difficult one, with more closings and cancellings still to come and a likely prolonged recovery period before visitors feel comfortable meeting in large gatherings. Those factors have raised questions among many residents about whether the National Cherry Festival - which atrracts roughly 500,000 attendees and is scheduled for July 4-11 - will be able to continue this summer. 

In a written statement to The Ticker, National Cherry Festival Executive Director Kat Paye said the festival has not yet made a decision about 2020. "We deeply care about our community, guests, volunteers and the cherry industry," she says. "At this time, we are monitoring the situation and, as always, public safety is our number one concern. For the last few weeks we have been working diligently with all of our vendors, performers, and stakeholders so they also understand the seriousness of our current situation. We know that the gravity of our decision will be impactful to our community, so we are being extra thorough and cautious."

Paye says the Cherry Festival will continue to keep the community updated on the status of its July event.