Othello Chamber cancels 4th of July celebration

OTHELLO — The annual Fourth of July celebration, put on the Othello Chamber of Commerce, has been canceled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the annual event will not be held, the chamber is tentatively planning to hold a fall festival on Oct. 10.

Sharon Skorick, Othello Chamber of Commerce manager, said that the chamber has wanted to do a fall festival for some time. The event would feature all the same activities that Othello residents have come to expect of the Fourth of July celebration – the freedom fun run, the pie eating contest, the skateboard tournament – as well as some new events, such as a volleyball tournament.

Skorick said that to hold the annual Fourth of July celebration at this time is “not worth it” and that the safety of attendees and vendors, as well as the governor’s stay-home orders, were taken into consideration when making the decision to cancel. The hope is that by October, all COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted.

“By then, we might be able to do a halfway normal event,” Skorick said. “We need to try and look forward to something. That’s why a fall festival would be really great. Something to remind people that we’re grateful for what we have and we’re going to celebrate.”

While the daytime Fourth of July events won’t be taking place, the annual fireworks show, put on by the city of Othello, will continue as usual.

“It’s something that the people of the community, and around America, want to feel normal,” said Othello Mayor Shawn Logan.

The Othello City Council has approved $13,000 in the 2020 budget for the annual fireworks display. The fireworks will be set off from the baseball field at 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 4.

“I’m glad we’re having the fireworks,” Logan said. “I think this year, people will enjoy them more. Everybody is trying to do their best to manage the virus. Having something that feels normal will be meaningful.”