2020 Town of Ayer Fourth of July Parade Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Town of Ayer
2020 Town of Ayer Fourth of July Parade Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
June 9, 2020

It is with great disappointment that the Town of Ayer must cancel the 2020 Fourth of July Parade originally scheduled for Saturday, July 4, 2020 at 11am due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.  This difficult decision is being made in the interests of the public’s health and safety during this unprecedented COVID-19 Pandemic.  This decision is being made in consultation with the Ayer Board of Selectmen based on recommendations by the Town Manager’s Office, Board of Health and Public Health Officials, the Fire Chief, the Police Chief,  and the Ayer Office of Community and Economic Development which is the primary planner and organizer of the Fourth of July Parade. 

In addition to the public health and safety concerns of having a large public event (on average 2,000 to 3,000 people attend the Ayer Fourth of July Parade) take place in Downtown Ayer; the organizers of the Fourth of July Parade have had numerous participants, vendors, and groups already cancel due to public health and safety concerns.  Additional cancellations have been due to the economic and logistical impacts of COVID-19 on certain vendors and participants.   

No community, including the Town of Ayer wants to cancel a public, community celebration.  The decision to cancel the 2020 Ayer Fourth of July is a very difficult one which will unquestionably result in community disappointment; this is the hardest part of this decision.  The Town understands and shares in this disappointment.  However, the public health and public safety of everyone in the community must be the priority during the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Additionally, this difficult decision is consistent with the many hard decisions most communities across the State and Nation are having to make as they cancel their Fourth of July parades and events due to COVID-19.

The Town of Ayer extends its sincere understanding to the community for the disappointment that this decision will cause this year.  The Town of Ayer remains optimistic that when the conditions of the COVID-19 Pandemic warrant, the Town will return to hosting and offering many public celebrations and events, including the Annual Fourth of July Parade next year in 2021.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this unprecedented COVID-19 Pandemic.  Please continue to stay safe and stay healthy.  Thank you.