ONTARIO — This summer won’t be quite the same in Ontario. The festival board has decided to cancel Ontario’s Fourth of July Festival and Miss Ontario competition.
“It was a pretty easy call,” said Frank Flaugher, who chairs both events.
Flaugher said he was disappointed, but that the health risks seemed too great.
“I don’t think we’re going to be anywhere near ready to go by the time we get to July 4th, to have that many people together. We draw upwards of 20,000 people for the fireworks,” he said.
Financing was the other key factor in the decision.
“We work completely off soliticiations and donations from local businesses. Most of these businesses are really getting hammered,” said Flaugher. “I’m just not at that point of going out and hitting people up for money when they’re going through times like this.”
Committee member Shelly Ackley said the current regulations on social gatherings would have made it difficult to properly plan for the festival.
“It takes several months to gather the door prizes, donations, and other items needed,” she said. “With the extension of the stay home order until the end of April, there wouldn’t be enough time to get what we need.”
Ackley added the decision was “heartbreaking” for everyone on the committee.
Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson said he was sad at the turn of events.
“It’s very tough because it’s our big community event that we have every year, but with everything going on it’s just a decision the committee made,” Hutchinson said.
