Most community celebrations and festivals have been canceled by the threat of the Coronavirus, but the attitude for the Dorr Fourth of July is “The Show Must Go On.”
The latest casualty is the Allegan County Fair in September, which has been called off until 2021. It was only the second time the fair has been canceled, the first during World War II.
With the promise of offering “family-oriented fun with safe social distancing,” the celebration will take place between Thursday, July 2, and Sunday, July 5, at the North and South Parks along 142nd Avenue west of downtown. All proceeds will go to youth sports programs in the community.
Daily booths and carnival rides will commence late afternoon Thursday and there will be a pop-up movie.
A community flea market and craft show will be offered from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday and a flag raising ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial at 7 p.m. A disc golf tournament will be held at North Park at 7 and the Luke Lenhart Band will perform live at 7:30. Another movie in the park will follow at dusk.
There will be a shuttle bus service at Five Lakes Brewing, Dorr Park, Dorr Moose Lodge and Foxfire Tractor Pull.
The annual parade is scheduled to step off at 10 a.m. Saturday at the American Legion Hall on 18th Street. Spreading out for social distancing will be part of the procession.
The annual ox roast will start at noon as well as the Knights of Columbus chicken barbecue.
Music will include a Johnny Cash Tribute performance, acoustic guitar performances, the Multigraves Band, Deerfield Run Band, preceding the fireworks display at dusk.
Activities will include dunk tank, tractor pull, youth baseball.
An outdoor church service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and a Cruise-In will follow at South Park.
I am hoping someone from the Dorr 4th commitee or the Dorr DBA will be willing to answer a few questions.
1. Are you aware there is a pandemic? How is social distancing in a festival atmosphere possible?
2. Are you ready and willing to accept the consequences if there is a covid outbreak that can be traced to the Dorr 4th celebration?
3. Why are you actively advertising and inviting out-of-towners to attend Dorr 4th celebration? I am not aware of so many news stories in the past years.
4. What safety measures are in place in the event of social/civil unrest?
5. Are you ready and willing to accept the consequences if violence ensues due to social/civil unrest?
6. Was the decision to go ahead with the celebration and aggressively advertise agreed upon by all members involved in this process?
7. Was there any community canvassing done to understand the thoughts of Dorr Township citizens during the decision process to go forward with the celebration and aggressive advertising campaign?
Thank you.
These are some really good questions………..What say you Mr Township Supervisor? It sounds like BLM will be present as well………….I can hardly wait to read the response. I’m sure they (Township Board) carefully addressed all these concerns before giving this event a green light………But did they? I sure hope there is a hefty fund balance or insurance to cover the potential liability……
Cheers!!
Concerned Citizen,
Are we at a point that mob actions dictate our actions? Is your fifth point is a threat? If the good folks in Dorr do not approve they can vote the leadership out of office.
Protests, riots are fine, celebrations of our nations birth are dangerous, go figure?
Sir,
I did not say protests and riots are fine, nor did I imply that such actions are fine.
My fifth point is most certainly not a threat and I wholeheartedly resent your implication.
I feel these are valid questions that deserve answers.
Dorr Township clearly states on their FB page the 4th celebration is sponsored by the DBA and Dorr Recreation and the celebration is not endorsed by the township board. So voting the township board out of office really won’t help with this situation.
Concerned Citizen,
Sir or Madam,
The majority of the celebration is at a park the Township owns the parks. The parade is on the streets mostly controlled by the Township. No park, no celebration, no streets, no parade. Nice try.
You stated “Are you ready and willing to accept the consequences if violence ensues due to social/civil unrest?” Sounds like mob rule to me, if fear of the mob rules our actions then law and order has broken down. We are a nation of laws not a nation of mob rule. Resent all you want, no one cares.
CC,
Thanks for the clarification. I would have thought the Township Board would have been the responsible for making these decisions. Lets hear from our elected officials from the Recreation Dept and the leadership from the DBA. I am assuming they have already covered most of the possible scenarios.
Cheers!!
I was fine with the celebration going on until it was broadcast all over. Now too many people will be here. I will be staying home. I dont do crazy.
It’s truly amazing reading these comments. Sounds like everyone wants to put a bubble over Dorr and let no one in or out.
So everyone who does not work in Dorr are staying home? I guess not…
Everyone who shops in Dorr and only Dorr all wear masks in the stores..the answer is No.
Are you who want to lock yourself away willing to donate/ support Dorr Rec…so your children can play in the sports and other programs Dorr Rec sponsors. Of course, you aren’t…
There isn’t anyone in Dorr township that could not bring Covid-19 to this township. All your concerns are based on your fear. There are so many fueling your fear you no longer can separate everything being fed to you.
No one is forcing anyone to attend, so stay home , you with all these fears must be accustomed to being locked at home seeing noone.
If you have been in public since March …your concerns are not valid…don’t be a hypocrite