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2022-05-13

INDY PRIDE FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS HOPE TO RECLAIM CROWDS AFTER COVID

This is a news story from WIBC by Chris Davis. According to the article, the Indy Pride Festival will be back after a two year hiatus due to COVID. The event will be held Indianapolis. Since the hiatus, some changes have been made. Cops at Pride will be in softer uniforms to make them more approachable. This will include shorts instead of the standard pants. There will also be police on bicycle patrol during the event. Shelly Snider, an executive director of the parade, says that the goal is to help queer people feel safe from major incident, but understands the rough relationship queer people in the past have had with the police force in general.

2022-03-30

After two-year hiatus, LGBTQ events return to Fiesta San Antonio

This is a news story from the San Antonio Current by Sam Sanchez. This story is about LGBTQ events returning to San Antonio after a two year break due to COVID. For the past two years, many of these events have been canceled. This article shares events happening in San Antonio and what non-profits they benefit. Some of these non-profits include: the San Antonio AIDS Foundation, The Thrive Youth Center, Pride San Antonio and BEAT AIDS. Events include: themed parties, chili cook-offs, party shuttles, and fiestas. Certain events include fees for attending and certain COVID precautions, such as masks, to attend.

2021-08-21

Virginia PrideFest Postponed due to COVD-19 Surge

Video highlights why the cancelation of PrideFest 2021 was important. During this time in 2021 there was a COVID-19 surge, so for the safety of the community, PrideFest was canceled. This shows the difficulties that the community faced and the hard decisions that had to be made in order to keep the community safe, but also the city of Richmond.

2021-11-19

Zack Davis and Cece Chavez Oral History, 2021/11/19

This is an audio interview with two members of the St Marys wind ensemble. It goes into how they were feeling when the university shut down, and their potential fears for the band program. It also goes into their experiences during online rehearsals and outdoor rehearsals.

2020-04-08

Keeping Concerts Alive

The pandemic forfeited any chance of attending that concert or planned music festival. Although online meetings weren't anyone's favorite, the switch from in-person concerts to Instagram and Facebook live concerts was a success. These quarantine concerts were able to keep the public entertained in their homes while keeping the spirit of live music alive.

2021-09-24

Power of 100 Vaxx Fest poster

Shared in Facebook by Tsuutina Comm. The poster is directed at indigenous people in the Canadian Province of Alberta. It advertises three days of events (24-26 September 2021) that those who get vaccinated at the event will also receive a swag bag; that there will be draws for gift cards, Macbooks, and iPads; social media influencers present; live music; drive-in-movies; and food.

This is a picture taken of a coin which is made in the shape of a hat. It is black, with the image of a city landscape on it and the number "2020" engraved above this image.

2020-07

The Calgary Stampede challenge coin, 2020

This is a small story from my dad, a CBSA officer in Calgary Alberta. He collects and commissions challenge coins for his workplace, which has quickly become his main hobby over the pandemic, trading these coins with officers across Canada and America. The PDF document is his own description of what this coin is, what it represents and why it is so important to understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the city of Calgary, cancelling for the first time in it's history, the 'greatest outdoor show on Earth,' the Calgary Stampede. This event is intrinsic to Calgary's identity, a show which celebrates the ranching and agricultural roots of this city and ultimately this province. The Calgary stampede boasts chuckwagon races, agricultural expos, overpriced yet famous mini-doughnuts and provincial art exhibits and much, much more - it's one of the few times a year where it's socially acceptable to dress up like a cowboy or cowgirl.

2020-08-06

Pagan Communities in the Time of Pandemic

One group that is often overlooked when discussing faith and religion is paganism. Partly, this is because, as the article references, paganism is not uniformly defined like other religious groups and faiths. As a result, it is much more difficult to understand and see how various pagans are reacting to the pandemic. Nonetheless, this article briefly surveys various sects of paganism in many different countries. One common element for many who consider themselves pagan has been celebrating and practicing privately, while also meeting virtually.

2021-03-31

Chris M. Monaghan Oral History, 2021/03/31

This is an oral history of Chris M. Monaghan, an artist based in Dexter Michigan, conducted by Monica Ruth, a graduate student intern with the COVID-19 archive, A Journal of the Plague Year. Chris talks about his street art/chalk artwork, participating in chalk art festivals, how the pandemic has influenced the festival and artist scenes, the sense of community in chalk art, and how chalk art is a source of entertainment, hope, and outlet for mental and physical health.

2020-10-30

Volunteering at the 2020 Otsukimi festival in Phoenix

I volunteered at the Otsukimi moon viewing festival this October in 2020. I was impressed regarding mask wearing and following overall Covid-19 protocols. They had to dial back the event from last years due to the pandemic, so there was less food and entertainment available. It was more similar to a showcase than a festival. Also all the tickets were sold prior rather than at the door. Otherwise it was a pleasant and calm experience.

2020-10-25

Dussehra- The Triumph of Good Over Evil

Watch the video of effigy of Ravana, and other demons being burnt on the occasion of Dussehra, an Indian festival. Hindus over the world celebrate Lord Rama's victory over the demon Ravana, and the triumph of good over evil. With over 7.86 million COVID cases and 119,000 deaths, people in Sharstri Park, New Delhi can be seen celebrating Dussehra with high spirits. To know more about the festival: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/india/dussehra

2020-07-27

No Permission for Indian Festival

The nine-night Garba festival, in which devotees dance to the tune invoking blessings from goddess Ambe, will no longer be the same. Thanks to COVID-19, chief minister Vijay Rupani told Garba organizers in Gujarat on Monday not to give permission to event organizers following safety guidelines.

2020-03-24T10:48

Cherry Blossoms without a Festival

This is a photograph of the Washington Monument when the cherry blossom festival usually takes place. It was taken when my family and I drove out to see the cherry blossoms, but when we arrived in DC, the roads were blockaded so that no one would be gathering around the cherry blossoms in large groups. If you zoom in closely, you can see cherry blossoms in the background, and that there are no people and hardly any cars. This photo of the monument taken when the Cherry Blossom Festival was supposed to happen is a testament to one the sweeping effects of the pandemic; the shutting down of events that used to happen every single year before. The photo itself is important to me because every year I go and see the cherry blossoms with my family and walk around the tidal basin. Looking at this photo I will always remember how empty DC was and how sad the sight of the solitary Cherry Blossoms was without people walking around to celebrate their bloom.

2020-05-14

Virtual Film Festivals

After years of working on a new short film about the Seattle's iconic Space Needle, it was scheduled to screen at a number of film festivals. But then came the CoVid19, quarantine, closures of movie theaters, etc. Several film festivals either cancelled their festivals entirely, or transitioned to virtual film festivals online. Normally, film festival premieres come with lots of face-to-face parties and networking - hanging with other filmmakers and celebrating the excitement of taking our work out into the world. It's a time to 'stand in the spotlight' and connect with live audiences. But instead, a new type of festival experience is happening, and for me, it hasn't been bad, just very different. The Cascadia International Women's Film Festival screened my "Space Needle: A Hidden History" in May. Located in Bellingham, Wash., the festival organized a live conversation with an art critic, one of the participants in the film, and me. We talked for about 40 minutes - longer than the typical Q & A at a traditional festival. I answered questions from the comfort of my living room and toasted the event online with a beer. I felt honored by the thoughtful questions of a journalist and a brilliant dancer in the film, and the fact that we didn't have to squeeze in to a 10 min. window. The interview streamed on Facebook. Viewers tuned in from all over the country and the world. (Hopefully, they'll start referring to the Needle as a 'she' since the shape was inspired by a sculpture called, 'The Feminine One.') I later learned the organizers had as many, if not more, viewers as in previous years. For another festival, By Design at the Northwest Film Forum in Seattle, I videotaped an introduction to the film that screened before a real-time stream. That was convenient though I felt a bit stilted talking to the camera on my computer. As a film festival attendee, I liked that I was able to watch films online during a window of time, instead of having to make painful decisions about which films to see when several were scheduled at the same time, and if lucky, I could watch on my own time during a designated window. No hassle standing in lines to get tickets, waiting to be admitted and scrambling for seats. No sticky floors and spilled popcorn, coughing or snoring audiences. I'm glad I didn't have to fly anywhere or drive long distances, though I miss being with fellow filmmakers and the in-person synergy that happens when a bunch of us get together in the same space.

2020-04-10

What Could've Been Choir Memories

This is about the things I've missed in choir because of the pandemic. Because of coronavirus, my choir and I couldn't go do our festivals which we could've meet other choirs. We were supposed to go to Knotts Berry farm and Universal Studios. We were supposed to sing one of my favorite songs, Hey Jude, in our last concert. This pandemic has taken a lot from many students, not only us. I can't help but feel bad for our seniors in choir especially those who were in choir for all fours years of their highschool life.

2020-04-30

The 25th Annual Brookline High School Poetry Festival

The BHS Poetry Festival invites high school students, alums, and faculty to read their original poetry. Many participants shared poetry about the pandemic. (do you want the digital file separately?)

2020-05-02

Utah Pride Center lays off much of its staff as donations slow because of Covid-19 and postponed Pride Festival

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the Utah Pride Center was forced to lay off much of their staff. The impact of the pandemic on local LGBTQ resources makes me worry for some in the community who would otherwise have jobs or be getting help. #ASU #HST580

2020-05-13

Yuimaaru is Needed Now!

One of many Facebook posts by the organizers of Honolulu's annual Okinawan Festival, calling upon Honolulu residents to patronize local Okinawan-Americans' businesses, to help them stay in business despite lockdown.

2020-05-13

Life during quarantine in the Coachella Valley

Our city is known as the City of Festivals; we host several festivals throughout the year. Two of the largest festivals, Coachella and Stagecoach, have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means a great deal of money and jobs have been lost. Here in the Coachella Valley, we are considered a tourist region, so when tourists can't come or events are cancelled, it is devastating. I was supposed to work at both festivals to help subsidize income for my family. Now, that has been made unavailable. And I am left looking for other ways to bring necessary funds into my household. Not having the festivals and several other events at our many Casinos has been really disparaging. We also have hundreds of Golf courses and resorts. This has put a lot of our people out of work. This also brings a damper to all of the other resources that help make these festivals and events complete. All of the maintenance, food vendors, and other vendors have also lost out of money. I actually work at a Boys and Girls Club and we have been shut down since March 16th. Although, I am still getting paid, it has not been as much as it normally would and that has hurt our family. We have four clubhouses here in the Coachella Valley with thousands of students; having to see these kids not being able to get together and play and have a place to escape for a while has been difficult. We have implemented virtual clubhouse programs to help keep the community connected. Although, that has been made difficult because several of our more eastern cities are more rural. These cities do not have great internet service. Therefore, several students cannot access activities and/or even participate in distance-learning. It is really sad to see how some of our students have not been able to get the help they need.

2020-05-01

Before and After

N/A

2020-05-07

French Quarter Festival and Satchmo SummerFest 2020 Cancelled, New Orleans, LA

French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) announces that plans to host French Quarter Festival in October are no longer moving forward. At the City’s direction and out of caution for the safety of fans, musicians, staff and partners, French Quarter Festival and Satchmo SummerFest 2020 have been canceled due to COVID-19. These events had previously been postponed to the fall of 2020.

A painting with multiple contrasting colors.

2020-05-03

The revival of life once again

This art piece “Revival of life once again” portrays dance moves of a life that we once had and took for granted before COVID-19. The girl in the center is dancing to the music as the music sways with the emotions of her body. There is a man on his knees playing the drums next to her and adding to the beats that the girl is dancing to. This painting also makes me hopeful of times after the quarantine when we will all be able to dance to the music the way that the girl is moving and play instruments the way that the man is playing his drum set. The Ferris wheel in the background is also reminiscent of summer festivals and amusement parks. We all desire to go back to fun Ferris wheels in summer festivals and amusement parks. Festivals brought a sort of fun and liveliness in our lives represented by all the different colors.