Another one of Minnesota's biggest traditions has called it quits for 2020. The Minnesota Renaissance Festival has announced that the gathering will not take place this year citing concerns over COVID-19.
In a statement on their
Facebook page, the organizers said, "We worked hard the last five months to develop a plan and mitigation measures which we firmly believe would have resulted in a safe and healthy Renaissance Festival. However, it is clear that the current State directives will not change significantly in time to allow the Festival to open this fall. Although we disagree with the current State directives that prevent a spacious outdoor venue from opening, we recognize the difficulty of the State government’s task. We share their goal of keeping Minnesotans safe and healthy."
We are profoundly disappointed to announce that the 2020 Minnesota Renaissance Festival will not be taking place this year.Learn more; https://t.co/4yZFbvbt6t pic.twitter.com/Cix3wprKVB
— MN Renaissance (@MNRenaissance)
August 19, 2020 The Minnesota Renaissance Festival began back in 1971, and is now situated in Shakopee. The festival runs on weekends (and Labor Day) from late August through early October.
The festival has announced they will continue to produce special events under Minnesota's coronavirus directives, such as the Feast of Fantasy and the Phantom Feast in October. Those events are scheduled to take place outside in a tent according to their website.
The festival is scheduled to take place again in 2021, and all 2020 tickets will be honored next year.
Renaissance Festival is just the latest in a growing list of cancelled major events in Minnesota. Those include the Minnesota State Fair, scheduled to begin one week from this Thursday, and the rest of the Valleyfair season along with numerous smaller gatherings, sporting events and concerts.
