Hunter
05/22/20
The City of Iowa City has announced that their annual fireworks display will not occur this summer.
In a release from the City Friday, they say the decision, in collaboration with Summer of the Arts, was based on the continued COVID-19 pandemic.
The cessation of live music throughout the area has hit Summer of the Arts hard, but they’re thinking outside the box with live “virtual” performances.
Tonight would have been the first night of the Friday Night Concert Series, featuring the West and City High jazz bands, but due to schools being closed back in March, their performance was cancelled. Instead, the Summer of the Arts Facebook page will be broadcasting a compilation of previous performances of the bands this evening at 6:30.
Upcoming virtual concerts will originate from the Iowa City Public Library and again will be broadcast on the group’s Facebook Page live starting at 7pm.
On June 12th, its the Jordan Sellergren Band; June 19th, Plastic Relations will perform, and on the 26th, it’ll be Flash in a Pan with special guest Annie Savage.
All performances will be rebroadcast on city channels and will be available for viewing on demand through the Summer of the Arts Facebook page.
Previously, the group announced that the annual Arts Festival, scheduled for June 5th through the 7th, would not take place, but virtual programming is being planned. Summer of the Arts director Lisa Barnes announced on KCJJ Thursday that the Jazz Fest, too, will not occur in its usual format, but they are working on virtual performances to be announced at a later date.
Barnes also announced that instead of the Saturday Night Movie Series happening on the Pentacrest, they’ve partnered with the Iowa City Municipal Airport to provide free drive-in movies during the month of July. Details will be released at a later date.
