Local cultural groups scrapped spring and summer events as the coronavirus pandemic shut down public gatherings and much of the regionâs tourism-based economy beginning in March.
Astoria, which awards cultural grants funded by lodging taxes each year for tourism-related events, forgave the money already spent, allowing the rest to be saved for later.
Local events, like the Astoria Regatta, face an uncertain 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian
But with the safety of public gatherings in the first half of the new year still up in the air with the rate of vaccinations, Astoria is asking cultural groups to decide whether events before July can still happen or return the grant money for safekeeping.