PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - The Pittsburgh Irish Festival has faced multiple challenges in the past few years, including severe flooding and now the global pandemic has forced the cancelation of the annual tradition.
In a statement, the festival's director Mairin Petrone said they don't think they can safety have a crowd of over 25,000 people gather in September.
"The Pittsburgh Irish Festival Board of Directors, leadership, and staff have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Festival. The safety of our team, volunteers, patrons, vendors, and entertainers is of utmost concern," the organization said in a statement.
With all of the logistics and planning that go into the festival, a decision was made sooner than later.
"We thank you for your understanding and your commitment to support our mission of preserving and promoting the Irish culture in our area. As of today, we have featured 50+ live music, comedy, cooking, storytelling, and children's performances on our Facebook page with over 350,000 views since the stay at home orders began. We plan to continue to bring this content to you on a regular basis and expand into even more areas of the Irish culture."
Those who have already purchased a ticket will receive an email that will have different options.
Anyone who received a promotional ticket, the voucher/ticket will be good for the 2021 festival.
The 2021 festival is scheduled for September 10-12, the 30th anniversary of the Pittsburgh Irish Fest.
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