Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac Summer Concert Series, which has become a Thursday evening tradition nearly three decades strong, will not take the stage this season.

The summer concert series, which is annual hosted weekly during the summer months and has hosted music ranging from country to jazz to Southwestern Michigan College student acts, has canceled its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision was both difficult and painful to make,” said Vickie Phillipson, program director for the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority.  “We realize how much families and friends enjoy gathering together for our evening concerts. However, of utmost concern is the safety of the public, including both our performers and attendees, a majority of whom are middle aged to senior citizens, which represents one of the most vulnerable segments of the population.”

Phillipson said corporate sponsors and performers are being notified this week of the DDA’s decision. She said musicians, who are able to book engagements more than a year in advance, will have the opportunity to move their contracts forward to the 2021 performance season.

The DDA’s decision to cancel the summer concert series comes on the heels of the cancellation of Summer in the City by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce.  The pandemic has also brought about the cancellation of the Dowagiac Memorial Day Parade and Community Garage Sale Weekend, which is normally hosted Memorial Day weekend.

A decision has not yet been made on Dowagiac’s Rod & Roll Classic Auto Show, which is hosted in mid-August.