GRAND HAVEN, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) — Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival is canceled for 2020, according to a note from the board of directors.
Officials said they made the decision after two months of research, “with guidance from The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ottawa County Department of Public Health, Region 6 Emergency Preparedness Coalition, North Ottawa Community Health System, The City of Grand Haven and partnering municipalities, and with the support of the United States Coast Guard.”
Since 1924, Grand Haven’s Coast Guard members have gathered to celebrate their work and honor those who’ve died in the line of service. By 1937, the festival was a public, formal event.
Festival organizers said they wanted to ensure the health and safety of US Coast Guard members as well as the public. The festival attracts around 350,000 people to Grand Haven every year, from around Michigan and well beyond, including USCG dignitaries from Washington, D.C.
The 2021 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival is set for July 30 to Aug. 8, 2021.
“This decision is difficult but necessary to ensure a healthy community. Additionally we are committed to supporting our sponsors, small businesses, and local partners as we plan for the future,” the board’s statement read, in part. The full statement is online at coastguardfest.org.
