Public health director 'cautiously optimistic' about Thursdays Downtown returning this summer
As vaccination rates continue to climb, Olmsted County Public Health Director Graham Briggs says he is “cautiously optimistic” outdoor events like Thursdays Downtown could start back up in the second half of 2021.
Briggs made the comment in an announcement Tuesday from the Rochester Downtown Alliance, the organizer of Thursdays Downtown and other popular seasonal events.
“As vaccines for COVID-19 become more widely available there is hope that we will see new cases continue to shrink over the next few months,” said Briggs. “We’ve seen throughout the pandemic the future is difficult to predict but supporting local businesses downtown while enjoying a summer evening in Rochester might not be that far off.”
The RDA’s preliminary plan, as released this week, shows some form of Thursdays Downtown beginning July 8 and running weekly through September 30. (That, of course, is subject to change depending on updated public health recommendations.)
In the meantime, the RDA plans to continue holding more “passive experiences,” such as what they are doing now with ImprovICE — an adapted, socially-distance version of the annual SocialICE festival.
Other events, including outdoor fitness classes and Movies in the Park, will begin as scheduled — with some safety precautions.
The RDA says it is also exploring the possibility of adding a new event to its lineup this summer: a roller disco. That event, pending public health guidance, would be held in August.
Cover photo courtesy the Rochester Downtown Alliance
