In addition to postponing last months concert, the City of Woodstock recently announced that the Steep Canyon Rangers August 8 show in the Woodstock Summer Concert Series will also be postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. City Council and the Parks and Recreation Department feel the cancellations are warranted due to the difficulty in ensuring adequate social distancing at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater.

The Woodstock Summer Concert Series is a free event, and no tickets are required to enter the amphitheater, which is part of The Park at City Center in downtown Woodstock.

We looked at making these concerts ticketed events in order to limit attendance in response to the pandemic, which would require barricading the park and the amphitheater and increasing staff at entrances, said Woodstock Parks and Recreation Director Michael Huffstetler. We also explored dividing the green space into grids to encourage social distancing. Even with these safeguards, we did not feel that we could guarantee social distancing at these events.

City Council has been evaluating and discussing this decision since the State of Emergency began in March.

Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques said, We do not take this decision lightly. City leaders regret disappointing our citizens who look forward to these events every year. Like many other decisions we are making in regard to pandemic response, we are faced with finding a balance between protecting the public and our staff while maintaining quality of life in Woodstock.

To confirm whether the September and October Summer Concert Series shows will take place, or to learn more about other events and programs of Woodstock Parks and Recreation, visit WoodstockParksAndRec.com. For more information on the City of Woodstock, visit WoodstockGa.gov.