PASADENA, N.L. — The 2021 Pasadena Winter Carnival is the latest event to suffer the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The carnival committee announced via Facebook on Monday, Oct. 26 that the 2021 event was cancelled. Marlene Brenton was the chair for the 2020 event and is remaining in that role.
“We just don’t want to chance anything,” she told SaltWire Network.
Brenton said the committee knew if it went ahead it would have to look at doing smaller events due to limitations on the number of people who can attend certain venues and didn’t think that would be fair.
If there was an outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, she said that wasn’t something the committee wanted tied to the carnival.
She said the decision was made when the committee met on Sunday night and members still want to keep the carnival alive, so there could be some smaller events. But with February still months away, she said that may not happen and, if it does, she doesn’t know what it would look like or involve.
“It wasn’t a lightly made decision for sure because we all love it ourselves.”
Brenton said for her it’s the community spirit and family time that the carnival is known for that she loves.
“It was a tough call but we just feel it’s more safe this way. We just want what’s best for everybody.”
Corner Brook Winter Carnival announced it wouldn’t be holding an event in 2021 earlier this month and at the same time encouraged people to keep the carnival spirit alive. Pasadena is doing the same by encouraging people to build snow sculptures, decorate their homes, and enjoy winter within their bubble.
Two other west coast communities have not yet given up on their winter celebrations. Deer Lake Winterfest committee member Christa Jones said the group hasn’t had any definite discussion on it.
“We’re hoping it’ll go ahead, but you never know maybe only certain parts of it will go ahead or maybe it could be cancelled altogether.”
Jones said planning for Winterfest doesn’t normally start until the new year as it’s not as involved as planning for the town’s annual Strawberry Festival, which was cancelled this summer.
Vanessa Lee said the carnival committee in Stephenville also hasn’t made a decision. Lee chaired the 2020 carnival and is staying on the committee. She said the group hasn’t held an official meeting for the winter yet but are in talks.
“We haven’t said yes and we haven’t said no … no decisions have been made.”
She hopes the committee will meet next week to see who is interested in staying involved and discuss the situation for 2021. Lee said knowing some other communities have cancelled their events may impact the Stephenville committee’s plans.
Diane Crocker is a west coast reporter in Corner Brook.
