PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After a year's absence, music venues around the Philadelphia region are getting ready to reopen their doors for concerts and shows.
The famous jazz concerts and other free musical performances at Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden are coming back in June.
"It is something that we miss more than ever, because it's been a year," said Camden County Commissioner Jeff Nash.
He was at the waterfront Wednesday as crews constructed the concert stage. They also made other COVID-19 safety measures, which are necessary for the show to go on, according to Nash.
The state of New Jersey allows outdoor events at 30% capacity. That means Wiggins Waterfront Park can host 1,500 people per show.
"We do intend to follow those rules by creating pods and doing aerial surveillance, so that we ensure that we are not going to exceed what the state is permitting," Nash said.
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He adds that social distancing, masks and whatever else the state says needs to be done will be completed to help people have a fun and safe time.
Other venues like the Ardmore Music Hall have spent their time without concerts getting their venue up to COVID-19 code.
"We, among other things, did a whole series of renovations during the pandemic, which we had planned prior," said Ardmore Music Hall co-owner Chris Perella.
"A lot of the renovations included not only updating all sorts of things in the facility like air, HVAC and other things that are going to be beneficial for COVID purposes, but also the flow and personal space in the room."
Perella explained that Ardmore Music Hall will open at 25% capacity when they start shows this month.
"We will require masks when you're not eating and drinking, even if you've been vaccinated. We're going to set up seating socially distant, so everyone's got plenty of personal space," said Perella.
"We have our first limited capacity show April 23 with the Everyone Orchestra. We announced a series of shows for the fall, which we hope will be normal capacity. Kind of reintroduce live music that way, so that our fans, staff and artists can take a gradual step that way, rather than go from zero to 60."