Havre de Grace Drive-In Concert Planned For Friday

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — A drive-in concert is planned for Friday, sponsored by the Havre de Grace Arts Collective. The event was given the go-ahead by the Havre de Grace City Council with one dissenting vote this week.

The Harford County Health Department is "on board with the concert," Havre de Grace City Council President David Glenn said at the council meeting where the event required approval, in part because city public works and police personnel will be assisting.

The lateness of the application and the idea of congregating did not sit well with one council member.

"I cannot in good conscience approve" of the event, Councilman David Martin said, noting "look at the dais."

Mayor William T. Martin was absent from Monday's meeting due to contracting the coronavirus, which also infected one City Hall staffer.

“There’s even been advertisements for this event without approval," Martin said at the Aug. 17 council meeting. While he said that he applauded the attempt at normalcy, he cited "our infection rates" in voting against the event, which still passed.

Councilman Jason Robinson said that denying approval could "set a bad precedent" and that his understanding was that the director of administration "prior to his absence had been working with the arts collective" on the event planning.

"I don't want to come down on an organization that’s trying to do a good thing," Robinson said, stating he was chalking up the lateness of the application to a miscommunication.

The council president seconded that notion.

"Total blame is not on the arts collective," Glenn said. The organization had been waiting for the health department to provide approval before submitting an application to the city.

"Our drive-in event may have not been the highest priority for the health department,” Glenn said. “It’s a [case of] lessons learned for us. Everybody's trying to think outside the box and try to do the best things they can to keep things afloat during these unprecedented times."

At the drive-in concert, attendees must wear face coverings if they are outside their cars and cannot maintain 6 feet of distance.

Councilwoman Carolyn Zinner said she heard there would be a space between each car, so people could get out and dance if they wanted and still have room for social distancing. People can bring lawn chairs and sit around their vehicles.

The Earth, Wind & Fire tribute concert will be at the Havre de Grace Community Center, 100 Lagaret Lane, Havre de Grace. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21.

Tickets are $30 per car.

The rain date is Saturday, Aug. 22.

See Also:

• Havre de Grace Mayor Tests Positive For Coronavirus
• Statement From Mayor William T. Martin Regarding Positive COVID-19 Test