Spoleto arts festival is the latest coronavirus cancellation. Here’s a full list
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to report that Richland County government has not canceled any meetings because of the coronavirus. A previous version was incorrect.
Spoleto Festival USA
Charleston’s annual Spoleto Festival has been canceled for the year.
The international performing arts festival was scheduled to run from May 22 to June 7, but the festival’s official Twitter account announced the “extraordinarily painful decision” to call the 2020 iteration off.
“This is truly heartbreaking for our artists, volunteers, staff, and audience,” the post said, “however, to continue plans in the face of #COVID19 would be irresponsible.”
South Carolina State Museum
The South Carolina State Museum is following guidance from the Department of Health and Environmental Control and is temporarily closing.
All upcoming museum programs, events and rentals through April 5 are also canceled.
Museum officials said staff are working on educational content to share online with students and families to ensure its resources will continue to be available to South Carolinians even though its doors are closed.
Riverbanks Zoo
Columbia’s Riverbanks Zoo announced Sunday that they would be temporarily closed from March 16 through March 31.
According to the zoo’s website, the closing was enforced to “help slow the spread of of the coronavirus in our community, and following the lead and directive of our state health and government officials.”
Animal care teams and other critical operations staff will continue to care for the animals and facility.
Other Riverbanks events including a Private Event Showcase, comPoost Load Sale pick up, Riverbanks Run and Bridge to the Wild Reception have been postponed or rescheduled.
Soda City Market
The weekly Soda City Market in downtown Columbia, which is attended by thousands of people every Saturday, has been suspended indefinitely, organizers announced Thursday afternoon.
“The safety of our community and the livelihood of our vendors have all been heavily considered and remain at the forefront of our work,” market spokesperson Heather Curtis said in a statement. “This afternoon, City officials alerted us that the event [Soda City Market] which occurs weekly on a public road via public private partnership must be canceled until further notice.”
As more cases of coronavirus are reported in South Carolina, some organizations have been opting to cancel or postpone events, classes or other public gatherings.
Additionally, organizers have canceled the annual Quarry Crusher Run at the Vulcan quarry in Olympia. The run was scheduled for Saturday.
For healthy people, there is no reason to skip group gatherings and public events, S.C. health officials have repeatedly said, most recently on Thursday, March 12.
Richland County Library
Richland Library announced all branches have closed starting Monday, in the interest of public safety.
While all of the library locations are shutting their doors, each will continue to extend loan periods on materials, so customers do not incur lost fees until the libraries reopen.
Events/festivals/concerts
▪ Charleston’s Spoleto Festival, scheduled to run from May 22 to June 7, has been canceled.
▪ Lexington canceled the Wine Walk at the Icehouse Amphitheater scheduled for May 9.
▪ The annual Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic, scheduled for March 27-29 at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds, has been canceled. Refunds will be issued for those who bought tickets online.
▪ The Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia is temporarily closed from March 16 through March 31.
▪ On Thursday, Camden’s Carolina Cup steeplechase was canceled.
▪ On Thursday, the S.C. Philharmonic announced it would play its concert Saturday to an empty theater. The performance will be livestreamed online.
▪ On Thursday, Budweiser canceled the appearances of its famous Clydesdale horses in the Midlands, according to a press release from the Town of Lexington.
▪ On Thursday, North Charleston canceled its St. Patrick’s Day parade and block party, scheduled for Saturday.
▪ On Thursday, Historic Columbia canceled all of its events through April 4 including: 16th Annual Bluegrass, Bidding and BBQ (March 19), City of Women Research Roundtable (March 24), City of Women Saturday Roll Bus Tour (March 28) and Closing Day at Capital City Stadium (April 4).
▪ On Wednesday, the City of Columbia and Five Points postponed the annual St. Patrick’s Day festival.
▪ On Thursday, the Indie Grits film festival said it will go forward March 26 to March 29, but other associated events will be canceled and tickets to the Nickelodeon Theater will be limited to increase “social distancing.”
▪ On Thursday, Prisma Health’s WellFest event scheduled for Saturday was postponed.
▪ The Koger Center for the Arts has cancelled the USC Wind Ensemble Concert: Triumph on March 19, USC Symphony Orchestra Concert on March 24, 15th Annual Ballet Stars of New York Gala on March 29, and the Kronos Quartet on April 3.
▪ Koger Center has postponed the Live in the Lobby Jazz Concert from March 17 to April 14, Mullen 2017-2020 Opening Reception from March 18 to April 18, and the American Clarinet Quartet Concert from March 18 to Sept. 2.
▪ On Tuesday, March 17, West Columbia’s Kinetic Derby Day Parade was called off indefinitely. It will be postponed.
▪ On Tuesday, March 24, the town of Lexington canceled its annual Lexington Wine Walk, which was scheduled for May 9. The town will refund tickets.
Government
▪ The City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department will close all park facilities until further notice. This includes: Anna Mae Dickerson Mini-Park, Ben Arnold, Boyd Plaza, Columbia Parks and Recreation Arts Center, Columbia Tennis Center, Busby Street Community Center, Drew Wellness, Earlewood Park, E.B. Sessions Park, Edisto Discovery Park, Elmwood/Roy Lynch Park, Emily Douglas Park, Esplanade at Canal Side, Fairwold Park, Finlay Park, Greenview Park and Tennis Courts, Hampton Park, Heathwood Park, Hollywood Park, Hyatt Park, Isaac McClinton Park James E. Clyburn Golf Center, Katy Park, Lester Bates Park, Lincoln Park, Lorick Park, Marshall Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Mays Park, Melrose Park, NOMA Bark Park, Owens Field Skate Park, Pinehurst Park, RA-Rock, Realtors Park, Rosewood Park, Sims Park, St. Anna’s Park, T.S. Martin Park, Tyler Park, Valencia Park, Virginia Pack, and Woodland Park.
This list also includes all playground equipment, tennis courts, picnic shelters and restroom facilities.
▪ The City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department is canceling all after school programs until further notice. These include Emily Douglas Park, Greenview Park, Hyatt Park, Katheryn M. Bellfied Booker Washington Heights Cultural Arts Center, Lorick Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Pinehurst Park, Sims Park, and Woodland Park.
▪ The City of Columbia has canceled all after-school programs until further notice.
▪ The City of Columbia is postponing the use of all athletic fields until further notice, and all sport leagues that use our fields.
▪ Lexington Town Hall will restrict public access to the building and will conduct business through alternate means for the next two weeks. All events scheduled for March at the Icehouse Amphitheater have been postponed.
▪ The City of West Columbia municipal court, parks, community centers, playground equipment, tennis courts, picnic shelters, and restroom facilities are closed until further notice. Access to all public buildings, including to the New Brookland Room and the Community Center, has been restricted as of March 17. The Meeting Street Artisan Market is postponed.
▪ The SC Education Lottery Claims Center will be closed until further notice. Claims for prizes over $500 and up to $100,000 may be submitted by mail or presented in-person upon reopening.
▪ State Court hearings may be rescheduled or held remotely. People called for jury duty who believe they have flu-like symptoms or are concerned about exposure can seek a delay in jury duty.
▪ The city of Columbia has canceled all non-essential public meetings and asking people to limit in-person participation at essential meetings such as the DDRC, Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals. The public is also urged to watch meetings remotely through CityTV. People can send in comments during the meetings by e-mailing cocboardmeeting@columbisc.gov. Please include the name and the case on to which the comment is directed.
▪ Columbia has also canceled the adult basketball league championship game scheduled for Friday at the Drew Wellness Center, senior exercise programs at Hyatt Park and Greenview Park, and the mayor’s play-ball initiative scheduled for March 21 at Earlewood Park.
▪ Starting Friday, Richland County is restricting access to the Judicial Center due to potential indirect contact with the coronavirus. Jury trials will be postponed, and non-jury trials and other hearings may continue to be held, but only attorneys, their clients and necessary witnesses will be allowed to appear. Only essential personnel will come into work.
▪ Lexington County court appearances scheduled for April 2 and April 3 have been postponed to May 7 and May 8.
▪ Lexington County Clerk of Court encourages residents to submit child-support payments, fines, fees and paper filings for circuit and family courts at the drive through window of the Marc H. Westbrook Judicial Center. Probate Court filings will also be accepted through the drive-through window.
▪ The teachers’ group SC for Ed has canceled a planned march on the State House scheduled for March 24.
▪ On Thursday, the S.C. Department of Corrections has suspended all visitation at its correctional institutions for 30 days.
Education
▪ On Sunday, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster ordered all 1,250 public schools closed through the end of March. This covers all K-12 public schools, state colleges and technical colleges.
▪ On Sunday, Wofford College announced it was starting an extended spring break immediately. Students will return to classes on April 6, when in-person classes are expected to resume.
▪ On Saturday, the University of South Carolina said students will not be allowed to stay in on-campus housing. This includes residence halls, as well as fraternity and sorority houses.
USC previously extended its spring break by a week and canceled classes. USC also suspended all in-person classes in favor of online classes through April 3, according to the school’s website.
▪ On Friday, Columbia College announced it will move all classes online beginning March 16. Students are asked to vacate residence halls by Sunday, March 15.
▪ On Friday, Columbia International University announced it will be extending spring break by a week, through March 20. CIU also postponed its March 17 John C. Maxwell Leadership Forum, according to a news release.
▪ On Thursday, Clemson University announced it will be going to online-only classes until at least the end of March. The campus will remain open.
▪ On Thursday, Winthrop University announced it will switch to online classes until at least April 3.
▪ On Wednesday, South Carolina State University extended its spring break through March 23. Once students return, in-person classes will be replaced by online classes.
Sports
▪ On Thursday, the SEC canceled its men’s conference basketball tournament.
▪ On Thursday, the ACC canceled its conference basketball tournament.
▪ On Thursday, the SEC suspended spring sports through March 30.
▪ On Thursday, the ACC suspended all sports indefinitely.
▪ On Thursday, Minor League Baseball, including the Columbia Fireflies, postponed the beginning of its 2020 season in April, as did Major League Baseball.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 2:23 PM with the headline "Spoleto arts festival is the latest coronavirus cancellation. Here’s a full list."