These events around Washington state have been canceled or postponed by coronavirus
In response to the spread of the novel coronavirus in Western Washington, a number of events are being canceled or postponed.
Here are events around the state that have been impacted the COVID-19 outbreak:
▪ The Taste of Washington, one of the state’s top wine and food festivals hosted by the Washington State Wine Commission, has been canceled due to COVID-19. The event, originally scheduled for March 19-22 in Seattle, is planning to return in 2021, according to an email from organizers.
▪ The Seattle Sounders have postponed their game against FC Dallas, originally scheduled for Saturday, March 21, at CenturyLink Field. A makeup date has not been announced.
▪ The Washington State Council of Fire Fighters announced on Facebook that the annual Fire Fighter Stair Climb in Seattle to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has been postponed. The event was originally scheduled for March 22, and the post said updates on rescheduling are upcoming.
▪ Washington State University is moving to online classes starting March 23 following next week’s spring break. There is no decision on when instruction could return to classrooms on its five campuses in the state.
▪ The Seattle Mariners announced via Twitter that they are examining alternative plans for home games scheduled at T-Mobile Park in Seattle at the end of March. The Mariners were supposed to host the Texas Rangers March 26-29 and the Minnesota Twins March 30-31. Refunds will be issued for any games that are moved.
▪ The March 27-29 Skagit/Island County Builders Association Home and Garden Show has been canceled, according to a post on the event’s Facebook page.
▪ Central Washington University will administer winter quarter finals by email or other means that prevent in-person contact. Classes now offered in person at all CWU sites will continue as planned through March 13, with finals starting March 17. The university will evaluate coronavirus risk again when spring quarter starts March 31.
▪ Washington State Fair events through the end of March have been canceled, according to a press release. That includes the March 14 Paddy O’Party. The status of the Washington State Spring Fair is still to be determined.
▪ The April 18 Leavenworth Ale Fest has been canceled, according to an event press release.
▪ The ShoWare Center in Kent has canceled all public and private gatherings of 250 people or more, according to a release.
▪ The Seattle Improvised Music Festival has been postponed, according to a release from organizers, who added they hope to reschedule the festival in September.
▪ The Pacific Northwest Ballet announced that it is canceling its upcoming performances of “One Thousand Pieces” and “Beauty and the Piece,” according to a release.
▪ The Seattle Pacific Science Center, PacSci, is closing to the public starting Thursday, March 12. That includes all programs and events, both IMAX theaters, the Laser Dome, the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center and the Polliwog Preschool.
Whatcom County
▪ All locations of the Bellingham Public Library are closed to the public until further notice, according to a City of Bellingham press release.
▪ The Whatcom Museum, including the Lightcatcher building, Old City Hall and the Syre Education Center are closed to the public until further notice, according to a City of Bellingham press release.
▪ The Pickford Film Center and Limelight Cinema will be closed through March 26, according to the website.
The Whatcom Museum announced in a release that it will cancel the following events: March 19 Toward a More Perfect Democracy Panel Discussion: Imperfect Democracy; March 22 Fourth Sundays: Audubon at the Museum; March 23 Washington’s Undiscovered Feminists with Mayumi Tsutakawa; March 24 Deadly Deception: The Plight of Birds and Plastic Pollution; March 29 Low Sensory Sunday; and April 7 Museum in Mind.
▪ The Lynden High School Performing Arts March 13-22 performances of “Guys & Dolls” have been canceled, according to the event’s Facebook page.
▪ The Ferndale Senior Activity Center St. Patrick’s Day Dinner on March 17 has been canceled, according to a Facebook post by the center.
▪ The Lynden Craft and Antique Show, scheduled for March 19-21 has been canceled, according to the event’s Facebook page.
▪ The Wings over Water birding festival scheduled for March 20-22 has been canceled, according to the even website. The event will return March 19-21, 2021.
▪ The Salish Sea Early Music Festival announced that it has canceled An Amusement for Flute and Guitar March 20 Church and the Muscia Alta Ripa April 3 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
▪ Western Washington University announced in a release that it has canceled Winter Commencement, originally scheduled for March 21. Winter graduates will be included in the Spring Commencement celebration. The release Friday, March 6, also said large-scale events on campus will be canceled for the next three weeks.
▪ Village Books announced in a release that it is postponing or canceling all events on its calendar through Sunday, March 22.
▪ The Mount Baker Club announced in a release that it has canceled its March 22 social.
▪ Bellingham City Club canceled its March 25 meeting — China, The Elephant in the Room — according to a release.
▪ The Solar for Home and Business workshop, originally scheduled for March 26 at RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, has been canceled due to concerns over COVID-19, according to an email from event organizers.
The Whatcom Business Alliance announced that it has postponed the 34th Annual Whatcom County Business Person and Small Business of the Year Awards Dinner until Oct. 1 at Semiahmoo.
▪ The Mount Baker Theatre has canceled all large events scheduled in March, according to an email from Interim Executive Director John Purdie. The theatre is working to notify ticket holders of that decision. Canceled events included: March 18 “Catapult;” March 21 Julie Hanft; March 23 “Ferdinand the Bull;” and March 28 The Pat Travers Band.
▪ The Mount Baker Rock and Gem Club announced on the event’s Facebook page that it has canceled the 2020 Gem and Mineral Show on March 28.
▪ The monthly Bellingham Community Meal Program has been canceled for March 28, according to an email to The Herald.
▪ Christ the Servant Lutheran Church announced on Facebook that it has canceled Sunday worship services for March 22 and 29.
▪ Bellingham Film has canceled all events through March 31, according to a release.
▪ The Bellingham Circus Guild announced it has canceled or postponed all guild gatherings in March and canceled its performance of “Vaudevillingham.”
▪ The Lynden Community Center announced in a release that it will be closing until further notice, resulting in the cancellation of the March 25 annual meeting, the March 28 pancake breakfast and the April 4 garage sale.
▪ The Whatcom County Public Works Department announced it has canceled the April 4 Small Far Expo. Instead, it encouraged participation in an online learning experience.
▪ Bellingham Girls Rock Camp announced that they have canceled the April 7-9 Spring Rock Retreat.
▪ The Bellingham TheatreWorks’ April 9-19 presentation of Just Once at the Sylvia Center for the Arts has been canceled.
▪ The April 14 Blue Skies for Children’s 13th Annual Casino Night has been canceled.
▪ The Whatcom County Youth Fair, scheduled for April 10-11, has been canceled, according to a release on the event’s website. Refunds for families and exhibitors that have already paid will be issued by April 15.
▪ The Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival announced that it has postponed the April 17 Red Carpet Gala, celebrating 100 years of women’s voting rights.
▪ The April 26-27 LunuxFest Northwest hosted by Bellingham Technical College has been canceled, according to the event website.
▪ All Bellingham Library events that are expected to be attended by 10 or more people have been canceled through April 30, according to the library’s website.
▪ Arne Hanna Aquatic Center announced it has canceled all instructional programs — including swim lessons, water aerobics, training courses and adapted aquatics — and all recreational swims — including family swims, open swims and preschool swims — through April 30. Lap swims and deep water running will still be allowed, as well private rentals and swim teams.
▪ The Whatcom County Library System announced in a Facebook post that it has canceled all programs, events, meeting room bookings and outreach activities through the end of March. All branch locations otherwise will continue to operate as normal.
▪ The 2020 Whatcom Memorial Day Parade scheduled for Saturday, May 23, has been canceled, according to an email from the parade committee.
▪ One of Bellingham’s new signature events, the Northwest Tune-Up bicycling event scheduled for June 5-7, has been canceled for 2020, according to a post on the event website. The event is scheduled to return in June 2021.
▪ The Whatcom Humane Society has canceled or postponed all non-essential large group community outreach events through the end of March, according to a tweet.
▪ Young Life Bellingham announced that it has canceled all large-group gatherings and suspended all club and campaign activities, according to a release. The group’s auction has been rescheduled for May 9.
▪ Following a directive from the Seattle Archdiocese, Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Church of the Assumption in Bellingham have canceled all daily and Sunday Masses and other social events until notified otherwise.
▪ The Sudden Valley Administration Office announced it has closed the Dance Barn for all events. That closure includes that season-opening act Pearl Django has been postponed and the performance Jorge Pacheco uncertain.
▪ First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham will offer services online only, according the website.
Pierce County
The Gray Sky Blues Music Festival scheduled for April 4 in downtown Tacoma has been canceled. The event will be held in 2021.
Thurston County
▪ Temple Beth Hatfiloh announced Thursday that it has canceled Blintzapalooza, a popular fundraiser in March that sells blintzes, bagels, baked goods and books. “Members of the organizing committee, in consultation with health authorities, have determined that holding a gathering that regularly attracts several thousands of persons in a relatively confined space is unwise while the Covid-19 virus is spreading rapidly in our state,” the synagogue announced on Facebook. “We want to thank those who have already spent hours in planning and organizing the event and those who volunteered and stood ready to assist at the event itself.”
▪ Nisqually Land Trust announced Monday, March 9, it is postponing its Conservation Dinner and Auction scheduled for March 14. “This is not a decision we made lightly, and our apology to all of you who were looking forward to the event,” the Trust wrote in its announcement. “We were, too. It’s an awesome party. And, frankly, it’s our only fundraising event, so this will leave a pretty darn big hole in our budget.” It aims to hold the dinner in early September and is assuming people who have registered would like to remain so unless they contact the Trust by phone at 360-489-3400 or email at staff@nisquallylandtrust.org.
▪ The Olympia World Affairs Council is canceling the Thursday, March 19, 2020 speaker event, “Ethiopia: Ethnic Federalism and the Narrow Path to Peace.”
This story will be updated as new information becomes available. If you have an event you would like included in this list, please email newsroom@bellinghamherald.com.
This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 10:08 AM.
