Summer fun in the time of COVID-19

By Michele D. Maniscalco

Normally, in the issue of the South End News right before Memorial Day, I would publish my annual Summer Arts and Entertainment Preview. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to bring you a guide to the South End's customary plethora of free, outdoor summer concert series, festivals, movies, art classes and more. Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has led the city of Boston to cancel festivals, parades and other outdoor gatherings this summer.
While we will not be seeing the Summer Soulstice festival in Blackstone Square, the Pride Parade marching joyfully across Tremont Street, the Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association's Music in the Square series, the Tito Puente Latin Music Series in O'Day Playground and other annual events, some local presenters of arts, entertainment and recreation have devised ways to keep us amused safely on-line. Here is a guide to events that are already in the works.
As the pandemic emergency is an unprecedented situation, organizations are having to re-write their playbooks to offer alternative programming, and additional events may continue to emerge in the coming weeks. If the South End News learns of additional arts and entertainment events, we will bring you the details as they develop.
For several years, the Community Music Center of Boston has presented Fête de la Musique, a worldwide celebration of the Summer Solstice that normally graces parks and plazas around the South End with live music on the third Saturday in June.
This year, Fête de la Musique returns on Saturday, June 20 from 3:00-5:00 PM with live performances on-line. Details on the performance lineup were not available at press time. The event is free, but viewers should RSVP at Eventbrite to get the link to the programming. For further information, please visit: https://cmcb.org/events/fete-de-la-musique/.
According to CEO Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, IBA is planning to present abbreviated, on-line versions of Festival Betances and the Tito Puente Latin Music Series. Festival Betances normally takes place the third weekend of July, and the Tito Puente Latin Music Series runs from early July to early August. Calderón-Rosado said, "We'll probably do a couple of hours of performances on the Saturday of [Festival Betances] weekend. We are trying to figure out the technical piece of offering multiple performances on-line."
Look for details on IBA Arts virtual events as they develop at IBA's website, www.ibaboston.org.
While South End Soccer canceled its spring play schedule, it is offering a series of monthly webinars in May through September with representatives from the Mass. Youth Soccer Association, Boston Scores, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and other organizations that make youth soccer possible as well as "On-line Fun @ Home" resources and tips. For details, see http://www.southendsoccer.org/.
The Boston Parks and Recreation Department (BPRD) normally fills our outdoor spaces with music, movies, and art, fitness, and athletic programs throughout the summer. This summer, BPRD is striving to deliver some of its customary summer programming remotely and is working on an outdoor event that can be done in accordance with social distancing. BPRD commissioner Ryan Woods said, "We are trying to be creative in what we can do."
According to Woods, for now, fitness classes will continue on-line this summer. "As things progress, the Mayor and the Governor may relax restrictions on gatherings of 25 to 50 people, and classes may be able to take place outdoors and in person." BPRD hopes to offer certain events that can be done with safe social distancing, including possible drive-in movie nights. "We are working with radio stations and others to find parking lots and other spaces where people could drive in without damaging the turf. We are [participating in] webinars with other cities to see what they are doing as well."
Woods reported. BPRD is also investigating ways to reprise the Mayor's annual Garden Contest within COVID-19 safety restrictions. Woods explained, "Because residents are home, they are putting more time and work into their gardens. We want to make sure they have a chance to show off their gardens. We are trying to do this creatively with respect to social distancing. We are still strong believers that negative activity and behavior can be prevented by positive programming."