The 2020 Twin City Days festival scheduled for Sept. 10-12 has been canceled, Twin City Area Chamber of Commerce officials announced Wednesday (May 13).
“We thought it was the right thing to do,” said Tonda Breeze, the chamber’s executive director. “Twin City Days is put on through the sponsorships from the businesses and we didn’t want to put any additional burdens on them.”
She said many of the businesses in Crystal City and Festus already are struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not only would it be difficult to fund the event, but the “logistics” of holding a large festival when health guidelines call for social distancing also played a part in the decision to cancel, Breeze said.
She said the chamber intends to bring back Twin City Days in 2021.
“Absolutely, it’s just a one-year thing,” she said. “We do plan to have it next year. Dr. Zhivegas, the band that was supposed to be our featured band at this year’s Twin City Days, has agreed to perform at the 2021 Twin City Days.”
Breeze said Twin City Days has been successful over the years bringing large crowds of people to the area, so the decision to cancel the 2020 event was difficult.
“It’s unfortunate because it’s a trickle-down effect,” she said. “It affects so many businesses.”
