2020 Red Poppy Festival canceled

The 21st annual Red Poppy Festival, which was rescheduled from April to October, has been canceled due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. City Council unanimously directed staff to cancel the event during its July 14 meeting.

“We reluctantly canceled POPPtober fest out of an abundance of caution for public safety. It was clear we really had no choice,” Mayor Dale Ross said. “We’re looking forward to the best Red Poppy Festival ever in April 2021.”

Next year’s festival is scheduled for April 23 to 25.

The City offered an interim virtual festival for fans to celebrate from home, featuring live music from Dysfunkshun Junkshun, a video replay of the 2019 Red Poppy Parade, and a presentation of the history of red poppies in Georgetown by The Daytripper star Chet Garner.

Special T-shirts commemorating the 2020 Red Poppy Festival: Virtual Edition, were available for purchase. T-shirt sales raised $2,675, all of which benefited The Caring Place.

For more information about the Red Poppy Festival, visit RedPoppyFestival.com.

City Council also agreed with staff recommendations to limit outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people, which is in line with the governor’s most recent orders. The City is exploring ways to encourage shopping small and additional opportunities for outdoor dining.

For more information about the City’s response to COVID-19, visit https://georgetown.org/coronavirus-information/.