Community Corner
Bel Air Independence Day Parade Canceled Amid Coronavirus
Planning was impossible for the parade festivities and fireworks due to uncertainty, organizers of the Fourth of July festivities said.
BEL AIR, MD — The Bel Air Independence Day Committee canceled the town's Fourth of July parade for 2020, citing public health. Since March 30, Maryland has been under a stay-at-home order due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
"After consulting with local officials, and evaluating tentative state and federal timeframes for the restoration of large gatherings and public events, we have determined that this year's celebrations cannot occur as planned," Committee President Donald Stewart said in a statement Wednesday. Gov. Larry Hogan has prohibited gatherings greater than 10 people to prevent the spread of the virus and declared a state of emergency, which remains in effect.
"For decades, our committee has prided itself on carrying on Bel Air's Independence Day traditions without fail," Stewart said of the all-volunteer Bel Air Independence Day Committee. "We have held events in inclement weather of all types — in fact, this is only the second time in more than 30 years that we have cancelled the parade and fireworks."
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The other cancellation was attributed to a tropical storm event in 1989, according to a statement from the committee, which said fireworks were held days later.
Already some of the planning had gotten underway for the 2020 festivities. Stewart told the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners recently that he had put money down for the fireworks.
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In addition, the 2020 Miss Bel Air Independence Day was selected, and officials said Chiamaka Ezeonyebuchi would keep her title through 2021 and compete in the Miss Maryland pageant, which will be held June 20 to 27, 2021. Her successor will be picked in 2022, organizers reported.
"Given the still-uncertain process of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the necessary planning and organization process cannot move forward," Parade Chairman and Committee Vice-President Michael Blum said in a statement.
This is the second parade cancellation in about six months for Bel Air. The Christmas Parade in downtown Bel Air was also canceled in 2019, due to weather.
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