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Water Ski Days 2020 canceled

The next Water Ski Days festival in Lake City will have to wait a year.

The Lake City Chamber of Commerce along with the Water Ski Days committee have made the decision to cancel the Water Ski Days festival which was slated to be held June 26-28 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chamber said in a news release.

“The health and safety of the community, volunteers, and all attendees is a top priority and careful thought was given to other options before ultimately deciding cancelling was in the best interest of all involved” stated Michelle Larson, executive director of the Lake City Chamber of Commerce.

Many factors were taken into consideration including what social distancing might look like in June with the guidance of state health officials, realizing many people may not feel comfortable in any type of large group setting at that time, and knowing that the success of an event like Water Ski Days relies heavily on the crucial planning weeks leading up to the event and attendance numbers, according to the Chamber.

“The premier event for Lake City, Water Ski Days brings roughly 30,000 people together on an annual basis. For many the weekend is a highlight of summer and it serves as a celebration of Lake City being the Birthplace of Water Skiing,” the Chamber said. “Water Ski Days provides an economic boost to the entire region in late June and is a substantial fundraiser for many organizations.”

“What some may not realize, is that this festival is the Chamber’s largest fundraiser. Funds from Water Ski Days keep the chamber of commerce in operation. Not only is it crucial for us, but it is a large fundraiser for the Lake City Lions Club, Lake City Rotary Club, and other local organizations who hold events that coincide with the festival weekend” said Larson. “Vendors like the carnival, food trucks, entertainment, and arts and crafts vendors are also taking an extreme hit as a result of festivals being cancelled around the region and beyond. Over the next couple weeks, the chamber will work to contact all sponsors, vendors, entertainment, and contractors regarding Water Ski Days and the next steps.”

The Lake City Chamber of Commerce is working with the committee, board members, other organizations, and volunteers to determine what types of smaller events may work yet this year in order to bring some type of celebration to the community.

“When the timing is appropriate and we can hold some sort of community celebration, we plan to. If anything, to give the community a chance to heal and come together, but we intend to do so safely and according to any guidelines that would be in place at that time” stated Larson.

Planning is already underway for Water Ski Days next year which will be held June 25-27, 2021.

For more information regarding Water Ski Days, people can contact Michelle Larson, Lake City Chamber of Commerce executive director, at lcchamber@lakecity.org and visit Water Ski Days on Facebook or lakecity.org for further details.

 

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