SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
They tried, but it couldn’t be done – not at least while COVID-19 still remains a threat to large gatherings.
And so the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Steve LeVine Entertainment & Public Relations gave up on trying to hold the 2020 Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival over Halloween weekend.
Instead, they’re working with the City of Chandler to find a new date for next year.
“The Ostrich Festival has been a long-standing community tradition and a year without it is difficult for us to comprehend,” said Terri Kimble, president/CEO of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce.
“Our main focus remains the well-being of our attendees, staff, vendors and all people involved in the festival,” she said. “Because the state and federal executive orders on large gatherings are still in effect, the Ostrich Festival will be postponed until March of 2021.
“We look forward to bringing the community together again in March and can’t wait to share more information on what’s in store.”
The pandemic began to take hold of Arizona only a matter of a couple weeks before the 2020 Ostrich Festival was scheduled to take place in March.
It had been rescheduled to Halloween weekend at a time when no one anticipated that the coronavirus would remain a threat into fall.
Numerous events throughout the nation that had been set for late summer and early fall subsequently fell by the wayside, postponed outright or taken to an online platform.
All 2020 tickets will be honored on the new spring dates. More information on the 2021 event will be released as soon as it’s available, the Chandler Chamber said.
The Chandler Chamber of Commerce Ostrich Festival began in 1988 and is based on Chandler’s colorful early history of ostrich ranching.
The event has grown to become one of the premier festivals in the southwest. The Ostrich Festival is a community family event featuring live ostriches, national and regional entertainment, carnival midway, food, and upscale arts and crafts.
Fans can stay abreast of the latest developments at OstrichFestival.com.
