The Return of Festivals – Summer 2021
By Lydia Plantamura
It required some digging around in the bottom crevasse of my closet, but I didn’t mind. After moving three times in the last six months, my things had become scattered, contained in boxes, but utterly unorganized and unaccounted for. I still hadn’t finished unpacking yet. My stomach leaped when I saw the crumpled-up bag. I excitedly pulled out costumes, glow sticks, and an obscene amount of glitter. It had been almost two years since I’d tucked these items away. This summer, however, American music lovers would once again bask in the glow of LED-lit stages, filling their lounges with the sweet patchouli-sweat air, and satiating their parched eardrums with the long-awaited return of loud live music. For the first time in over a year, clubs, venues, and festivals welcomed crowds through opened doors.
The long-awaited return feels like the end of the dark ages. Friends are reconnecting after losing touch during global lockdowns, and festival families are rejoicing in the reunion. Events are easing back in slowly, though. As the pandemic continues, international events are learning how to cope, discovering new ways of holding space for large groups of people. This is both a frustrating challenge and a valuable learning experience for organizers and attendees alike. Plus, performers and artists are still limited in their ability to hold world tours at all. Concerts held abroad require adaptability to shifting government policies that can change at any moment without warning. The Marcellus, France-based electronic artist, French 79, for example, had to postpone a worldwide tour for his 2019 album, Joshua Tree. His team excitedly posted dates for 2021, scheduling appearances across the United States. However, less than 2 weeks before his first American show in Boston, the artist spoke to followers on social media, apologizing for the last-minute cancellation of every single one of his United States shows. He explained that due to health regulations, he was unable to gain clearance to travel internationally to the U.S. He has rescheduled these dates for 2022.
Our communities are desperate to return to events. People need to gather. There is something about physically being in a space with others. Although many events attempted virtual streaming during the hiatus from in-person activities, none can compare to the experience of actually being there. For one, it is easier to disconnect virtually and reconnect physically when you are in a shared space. You are more present, engaged with the action around you, and less tempted by the lure of social media. At festivals, attendees enjoy meeting new people they might not have ordinarily interacted with. This creates an opportunity for individuals to connect more deeply with their community, building stronger ties to their fellow man. Immersed in a world of music, art, and culture, these creative events can be greatly inspirational, and even spiritual experiences.
We’ve seen many changes over the last year and a half. While you still might not be able to travel internationally to your favorite large-scale events, consider looking into what’s happening in your local area. Small community events need your support more than ever. Venues and organizers are finding ways to keep patrons safe, often requiring proof of vaccination, proof of a negative COVID test, or proof of recently recovering from COVID-19. Some are taking temperatures, requiring masks, and offering digital payment methods so that less human-to-human contact is made. Always double-check the event info in advance, and make the best decisions for your specific health situation.
Festivals, concerts, and shows allow us to gather collectively, connect to each other, and satisfy our hunger for culture. As social creatures, we need events. By finding safe ways to gather together and maintaining a mindful attitude with respect towards others, we can find ways to preserve our creative communities so our art will continue to thrive.