Cottonwood was set to take place May 2-3, while Wildflower was scheduled for May 15-17. Mayor Paul Voelker said he felt this was the “only right decision under the circumstances.”
“It is unfortunate, as these festivals have been a major part of our community coming together for decades, but it was necessary to ensure that we are not putting thousands of visitors at risk and that we are remaining fully compliant with the guidance provided by federal, state and county officials,” Voelker said in a statement.
Richardson City Council ratified a disaster declaration March 23 that includes a mandatory shelter-in-place order for residents citywide. The order will remain in effect until April 30.
Included in the order is a ban on public gatherings. Dallas County has a similar order in place until April 3; however, County Judge Clay Jenkins said he expects the order to be extended.
“The estimate from the medical community is not two weeks; it’s months unfortunately,” Jenkins said in a March 23 press conference. “I hope that turns out to be wrong.”
As of now, the fall Cottonwood Art Festival is still on, according to the release. It is scheduled to take place Oct. 3-4.
“Nevertheless, we are happy to say that the fall celebration of the Cottonwood Art Festival is still planned, and that we eagerly and optimistically look forward to seeing everyone gathered together in Cottonwood Park this October,” Voelker said in a statement.
Wildflower Festival tickets will be automatically refunded through Etix, the release said. No action from the ticket holder is required. To receive a refund by check for Richardson resident discount tickets, residents must send their tickets, along with their name and mailing address, to:
City of Richardson
Accounting Department
P.O. Box 830309
Richardson, TX 75083-0309
For more information on the event cancellations, visit www.cor.net/departments/parks-recreation, www.wildflowerfestival.com, www.cottonwoodartfestival.com or the social media feeds of the city and both festivals.
