Flint Fireworks and Concert Canceled

It was almost inevitable, but so many of us were holding out hope that the 4th of July in Flint would go on as planned. Unfortunately it looks like it will be a little less exciting this year.

The Flint Downtown Development Authority and Flint Institute of Music sadly announced the annual Fourth of July Music Around Town Concert and Fireworks Celebration at Atwood Stadium have been cancelled this year. Always a community highlight during the  summers in the area,  it was a tough decision to make for organizers.

The announcement made Friday cited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's orders, which limit outdoor gatherings to 250 or fewer people. “In light of these current public health and safety precautions the concert cannot be presented as planned,” said Rodney Lontine, Flint Institute of Music, President & CEO.

Lontine went on to say, “FIM and our friends at the Flint DDA are committed to keeping everyone safe. We are looking at the possibility of holding an outdoor concert sometime later in the year if restrictions limiting outdoor gatherings of larger groups are lifted, and all other requirements for safely presenting a concert can be met.”

The cancelation of 4th of July celebrations throughout the state seem to be the norm this year amid the coronavirus pandemic and state mandated guidelines. Just earlier this week the Saginaw Area Fireworks organization, which puts on the annual show from the their location on Ojibway Island, announced their cancelation of a public fireworks display. Also, Bay City's three-day fireworks festival during the 4th of July also has been called off this year.