COVID-19 Causes More Bitterroot Cancellations

The summer concert series on the Large Lawn of Sapphire Lutheran Homes in Hamilton has been cancelled. At first, the three concerts had been rescheduled for later in the summer, but COVID-19 has continued to maintain its dominance. And, with recent evidence of community spread, the series instead was cancelled. The free concerts, which at first had been moved to late July and early August, had then been moved to nearby Claudia Driscoll Park, where more social distancing could be done. But, with the increased uncertainty that comes with community spread of the coronavirus, the series was dropped, according to Community Life director Dominic Farrenkopf. Sapphire had already suffered the loss of MSU's Shakespeare in the Parks, which postponed their yearly trip around Montana until next summer.

The gatherings join a list of summer events that have been cancelled in 2020, including the Hard Times Bluegrass Festival, Daly Days in downtown Hamilton and at the Daly Mansion, Tuesday at 12 noon concert series at the Ravalli County Museum Lawn, Creamery Picnic in Stevensville, the Community Band Thursday evening concerts at the Hamilton bandshell, and the Bitterroot Celtic Games and Gathering.

In the "still hopeful" category, the Chamber of Commerce has postponed The Bitterroot Brewfest, with a later date still possible this year. Other events that are still on the calendar in the valley include rodeo events at the Darby Rodeo Grounds, the Ravalli County Fair in September, tours of the Daly Mansion, Culture Crawl each month in downtown Hamilton, various weekend gatherings at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds, and the Saturday Farmers Markets at Bedford and South 3rd in Hamilton.