A new kind of holiday

Planning for a COVID-19 Fourth of July

For many Americans, the Fourth of July weekend means family traditions, barbecues, fireworks, and celebrating the red, white and blue.

This year is different.

After an onslaught of COVID-19 cancellations, Idahoans and visitors from neighboring areas are debating whether to go out, stay in, or even celebrate the Fourth of July at all.

Coeur d’Alene’s Chamber of Commerce canceled its annual downtown festivities last week after several cities throughout the state decided not to move forward with fireworks shows and public events. With cases in Idaho growing quickly day-by-day, public officials are feeling the pressure to avoid large gatherings.

With Coeur d’Alene just a stone’s throw from the Washington border, it is not uncommon for residents to cross the state line and enjoy the best of both worlds. Recently this has become a tad more noticeable as Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has put a firm halt on reopening the state.

With sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s on Friday, downtown Coeur d’Alene and City Beach were again filled with people gearing up for a holiday weekend.

Driving all the way from Sunnyside, Wash., Lyn Dasso, 65 is excited to spend time with his family and enjoy Stage 4 Idaho by watching the “People’s Rights Parade” Saturday morning.

“They canceled a lot of the stuff here because of COVID, but there is some independent guy who is going to have his own parade ride through downtown,” Dasso said. “I’d like to see that because people are fed up, they want to celebrate and go outside.”

Not everyone is ready to stand with the masses just yet. With the recent uptick in coronavirus cases and local businesses conforming to new safety guidelines, some residents are looking to play it safe this weekend and be a homebody.

“A lot of people are coming from Washington and different areas that obviously aren’t too concerned about COVID and probably aren’t taking proper precautions so you know it’s kind of a worry that there will be more of a spike even though there is already a spike going on,” 18-year-old Vivian Redding from Coeur d’Alene said. “Several coffee shops have shut down and that’s nervous for me. I don’t want to get COVID.”

Barbecues, holiday traditions, fireworks in the front yard, and COVID-friendly gatherings are still on the calendar this weekend for many people like Craig Catoett, 64.

“We’re just taking it easy this Fourth, like a lot of people we’re concerned about what’s going on so we’re trying to be conscientious,” Catoett said. “Tomorrow several of my private students who are staying home and being socially conscious are taking music lessons with me. I teach outside on my patio and we space out music stands for everyone, the neighbors all love it.”