Hey governor, will COVID-19 cancel Water Follies? Can you help us plan? | Editorial
Gov. Jay Inslee said reopening the state economy will be a turn of a dial instead of the flip of a switch — which is the right approach.
But just how far does that dial go?
That’s the question Michael Novakovich, President and CEO of Visit Tri-Cities, is asking.
He said summer activities are still the big “unknown,” particularly the annual HAPO Columbia Cup hydroplane races scheduled for July 24-26.
Inslee is gradually lifting restrictions to his, “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, which was put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
As he takes small steps to open the economy, he should keep in mind that communities around the state are still planning major events that draw huge crowds.
If there is a health and safety road map for fairs, festivals and boat races, the sooner organizers are given that information, the better.
Inslee has relied on expertise from others to help decide how to open up more construction in the state, as well as hunting and fishing.
He also should reach out to those in the tourism industry to help determine what, if any, strategies could be implemented that would allow big community events to continue when the time is right.
For now, people are hopeful that by July we will have enough testing supplies and a way to track people who might be infected. If that happens, and the number of COVID-19 cases decrease significantly, perhaps Inslee will allow large gatherings.
Kathy Powell, event manager for the Tri-City Water Follies Association, said her team will be planning for the community’s premier weekend “until I’m told to stop.”
The event is a massive undertaking that requires months of preparation, and she is hoping — like all of us — that the number of coronavirus cases will drop dramatically over the next couple of months so the HAPO Columbia Cup can still happen.
Already, two sites on the hydroplane circuit have canceled.
The Guntersville Lake Hydrofest in Alabama and the Madison Regatta in Indiana were scheduled earlier in the summer, but are now postponed. If the Tri-City hydroplane races are allowed to happen, our community will be the first on the H1 Unlimited circuit.
The Tri-Cities event typically draws 70,000 people to both shores along the Columbia River, and about 10% of those spectators are from out of town. Visit Tri-Cities estimates the economic impact from the weekend at $3 million.
While always significant, such an infusion of tourism dollars this year would be especially welcome.
Novokavich said that the community has lost at least $13 million since the coronavirus forced the cancellation of sporting events, conventions and other activities that would have brought people to the Tri-Cities.
He said some events have been rescheduled for later dates, but others are “just gone.”
Losing the HAPO Columbia Cup this year would be a huge economic loss for the Tri-Cities, but it also would hurt a number of service clubs who make money by working at the event.
Parking cars and dishing up ice cream can be among the biggest fund-raisers for some school groups and charities. That loss of income will affect the amount of good they can do in the community.
Small businesses, like those that provide the temporary fencing and the port-o-lets, also get a boost in their budgets from the Water Follies.
Powell said she doesn’t know how some of these businesses will survive without events like the boat races.
Planning for such a monumental event like the HAPO Columbia Cup is tough enough without adding uncertainty that it might be canceled. Powell said people who reserve tents and space along the shore can get a refund if the boat races don’t happen this year.
Right now, it’s too early to make that call.
Inlsee should, however, provide guidance to communities planning crowd-attracting events — just in case they have a chance of getting a spot on his dial.
This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 12:24 PM.