THINGS TO DO Canceled cultural events
Shows, festivals still on rough path in second year of pandemic
Since January 2020, when Arizona confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus, scores of in-person events have been postponed, rescheduled, canceled and adapted for online audiences. Some of the biggest events in metro Phoenix, including the Arizona State Fair, the Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field and Phoenix Pride, took a hit.
The Chandler Ostrich Festival, Country Thunder and Phoenix Pride were among those that initially postponed in the hopes that COVID-19 would abate toward the end of 2020. However, it became apparent that they could not be planned safely and ultimately had to be canceled last year.
Their fates this year are yet to be determined.
Similar to last year, the ostrich festival, scheduled for March, has been moved to the fall. Country Thunder has also been rescheduled a third time, from April to October 2020, and again from April to October 2021.
Cactus League spring training, meanwhile, will go forward as scheduled this year. Exhibition games are scheduled to begin Feb. 27.
Here are the metro Phoenix annual events that have been canceled and postponed due to COVID-19 this winter and spring, as well as those that have moved online.
Phoenix events that have been canceled this winter and spring
Arizona Renaissance Festival: Canceled after originally announcing a Feb. 6-April 4 run. https://arizona.renfest info.com.
Buckeye Air Fair: Canceled; was scheduled for Feb. 13-14. New dates are Feb. 11-13, 2022. Buckeye Municipal Airport,
3000 S. Palo Verde Road. http://www.buckeyeaz.gov.
Downtown Tempe Sunday Market: Canceled; was scheduled for Saturdays, Feb. 14-April 25. https://www.down towntempe.com/events/6th-street -market.
Innings Festival: Canceled; was scheduled for Feb. 27-28. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. https:// www.inningsfestival.com.
McDowell Mountain Music Fest: Canceled; was scheduled for March 5-6. https://www.m3ffest.com.
Arizona Persian New Year Festival: Canceled; instead there will be interactive art installations. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, March 6-7. Marshall Way Bridge at the Scottsdale Waterfront, 4420 N. Scottsdale Road. https://www.persiannewyear festival.org.
Arizona Aloha Festival: was scheduled for March www.azalohafest.org.
Tempe Spring Festival of the Arts: Canceled; was scheduled for March 2628. https://www.tempefestival ofthearts.com.
Maricopa County Fair: was scheduled for April 7-11. http://www.maricopacountyfair.org.
Canceled; 14. Free.
Canceled;
2021 metro Phoenix events that have been rescheduled
The Good Life Festival: Rescheduled from March 27 to Nov. 6. Schnepf Farms, 24810 E. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek. https://www.thegoodlife fest.com/events/tglf-schnepf-farms.
Chandler Ostrich Festival: Had been rescheduled for March 2021; now postponed until fall 2021. https://ostrichfestival.com.
Country Thunder: Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 14-17. Had been scheduled for April 16-19. 20585 E. Water Way, Florence. https://www.country thunder.com/az.
2021 metro Phoenix events that have moved online
Arizona Matsuri: Virtual event Feb. 27-28. Free. https://www.az matsuri.org.
St Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire: Virtual event on Saturday, March 13. https://stpatricksdayphoenix.org.
Reach the reporter at kimi.robinson@gannett.com or at 602444-4968. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin and Instagram @ReporterKiMi.