RCC Cancels 2020 Reston Multicultural Festival Due To Coronavirus

RESTON, VA — Reston Community Center confirmed Tuesday it was canceling the 2020 Reston Multicultural Festival due to public heath concerns. The annual event was originally scheduled for Sept. 26, at Lake Anne Plaza.

“Regretfully, we must cancel the 2020 Reston Multicultural Festival,” said RCC Executive Director Leila Gordon, in a release. “After monitoring and reviewing the COVID-19 risks since the pandemic’s beginning, we have realized there is no safe way to present the Multicultural Festival in 2020. The health and safety of our performers, vendors, staff, volunteers and community have to take precedence in these unprecedented times.”

Thousands of people flock to Reston each year for the annual festival, which highlight's the community's diversity. A vision of Reston founder Robert E. Simon, the event was meant to be a celebration of the performing arts, food, and visual arts, with the inclusion of a naturalization ceremony. The festival is co-sponsored by Lake Anne of Reston Condominium Association and Reston Association, along with partners from a variety of Reston-based organizations and businesses.

Gordon hoped to the festival would return in 2021, but it will all depend on the public health conditions in the region at that time.

“It breaks our hearts to take this step," said RCC Board Chair Bev Cosham, who typically both emcees and performs at the festival's naturalization ceremony. "We know that this event is a cherished part of Reston’s calendar and has deep meaning for participants and festival-goers alike. We are hopeful that spring will bring greater safety and restoration of the public gatherings that mean so much to Reston.”

Although the festival has been canceled for this year, RCC will continue to schedule multicultural programming this summer and through the fall. These will be small, socially distance events like Take a Break Concerts (Thursdays at Lake Anne), Summerbration Fab Fridays (Fridays at Reston Station), Equity Matters movie screenings at the CenterStage, and Professional Touring Artist Series performances. RCC will also offer performing and visual arts program via it's YouTube channel.

“Like our colleagues, we are trying to balance our desire to support artists, bring valued content to audiences and do so safely at all times,” said Arts and Events Director Paul Douglas Michnewicz, in the release. “It’s a constantly evolving environment, so we depend on flexibility and people staying alert to sudden changes in programming.”

The Reston Multicultural Festival is not the only local event canceled for 2020. On Monday, the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce announced that it was canceling the 2020 Taste of Reston due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information about RCC events and performance, visit www.restoncommunitycenter.com.