July 4th parade and festival canceled
Ladies of the Blazin' Divas dance down Sherman Avenue during the Coeur d'Alene American Heroes Fourth of July Parade in 2014. This year's parade and festival will cancelled due to the recent rise in Coronavirus cases. (PRESS File Photo)
The Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce announced that the July 4th parade and all organized festivities are cancelled, due to concerns about the rising number of COVID-19 cases in North Idaho.
The board of directors made the unanimous decision to cancel upon the recommendation of representatives from the City of Coeur d’Alene, Panhandle Health District and the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department. The news comes after the cancellation of the annual July 4 fireworks event over Coeur d’Alene Lake, which was announced in late May.
All parade applicants and vendors will receive a full refund.
“Canceling the festivities over the Fourth of July weekend was an extremely difficult decision for our chamber’s Board of Directors to make on behalf of the community,” Board Chair Heidi Rogers said in a news release. “We feel this is the most responsible course of action for both the business community and the entire population, as our number one priority is public safety and economic prosperity for all of Coeur d’Alene.”
Mayor Steve Widmyer said in a statement that the city supports the recommendation to cancel the festivities and the chamber’s decision to do so.
“Recently we have seen a significant spike in virus cases,” he said. “We need to stop that trend. We can’t afford to go backwards in our fight against this illness.”
Panhandle Public Health District Director Lora Whalen said the recommendation was made due to increased community transmission of COVID-19.
“This virus has or will effect many of us,” she said. “We need everyone to practice the precautions we know can slow the spread in order to keep our workforce healthy and our incredible community members safe.”