Alive@Five concertgoers must have proof of vaccination or COVID test
STAMFORD — A week before Stamford’s annual twin concert series starts, its organizers announced that all attendees will need to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test taken within 72 hours to enter the venue.
The alternate system for Alive@Five and Wednesday Nite Live, both run by the Downtown Special Services District, will replace mandatory masking at the Mill River Park concerts.
“As we looked at what other outdoor concerts and festivals were doing around the region to keep their attendees safe, it was clear that vaccine or negative test requirements will be the norm later this fall,” DSSD President David Kooris said in a press release.
He added: “By taking this step now, we are creating a safe and comfortable environment where concertgoers can enjoy outdoor live music and drinks, mask free.”
Minors under the age of 12 accompanying a ticketed adult at Wednesday Nite Live must also present proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of entry.
After Gov. Ned Lamont’s executive order making mask mandates a strictly municipal issue, Mayor David Martin in early August reinstated Stamford’s indoor masking requirement and introduced outdoor masking at “outdoor
gatherings of more than 100 persons at city... facilities or parks.”
But after an outdoor food festival at Mill River Park drew thousands of attendees, mostly without masks, Martin received backlash for the mandate from the city’s police union in particular, which claimed that “anyone within a bird’s eye view of the event could see” the city was not enforcing the mandate.
Though patrons were allowed to go maskless while eating and drinking, they were technically required to wear facial coverings at all other times.
Wednesday Nite Live and Alive@Five officially begin the first week of September. The Wednesday concerts start at 7 p.m. Sept. 1, with a performance from Blues Traveler. Alive@Five begins the following evening at 5 p.m., but the event is restricted to patrons 21 years old and older.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite for $25. Same-day tickets will be available on the day of performances for $35. Children younger than 12 can attend Wednesday Nite Live for free but cannot attend Alive@Five.
The DSSD is also selling VIP tickets for $100 online. These packages include a private VIP entrance, access to a VIP standing room area near the stage, a free drink, and access to the dedicated VIP bar and restrooms.