Cancelled: 72nd Annual Cambridge-Dorchester Christmas Parade

On Monday, September 28, 2020, the Cambridge-Dorchester County Christmas Parade committee met to discuss this year's parade, the 72nd annual event, scheduled for Saturday, December 5, 2020. Many topics were covered including whether the event this year is feasible given the ever-looming coronavirus pandemic.

The committee grappled with the decision but ultimately decided that this year's event should be canceled/postponed until December 2021.

At the fore of the decision were concerns regarding fund-raising efforts at a difficult time for many local businesses. The Christmas parade is 100% donor-funded, local businesses making up 90% of those contributions. Committee members determined that they did not wish to put further strain on community business owners in asking for donations.

Additional concerns included the lack of, or inability of particular groups to participate, particularly the absence of marching bands and school clubs as a result of the pandemic.

On September 8, 2020, Governor Hogan renewed the State of Emergency and on September 28, 2020, issued Executive Order 20-09-28-01, which recommends canceling large gatherings

to reduce the spread of COVID-19, continued requirements for use of face coverings, social distancing, and limiting indoor AND outdoor venue capacity.

Of genuine concern is the health, safety, and welfare of participants and spectators. The committee recognized that a parade is an event that is difficult to ensure guidelines are followed.

To stay within local and state guidelines, and in recognizing genuine concern for the health and safety of our participants, spectators, and volunteers, we have decided to postpone the

2020 Cambridge-Dorchester County Christmas Parade.

We will use this year as a building year, allowing our local businesses to recover, and to focus on bringing a better than ever event next year. This year's theme was to be, "Fishing you a Merry Christmas." We'll try again next year to go fishing and will re-offer the 72nd annual - we're not canceling just postponing until 2021!