Brookhaven, like most Georgia cities, had to cancel its springtime events for a second straight year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the city is making plans for a large summer celebration, but it’s unclear if any coronavirus safety measures will be required.
Starting with the cancellation of the city’s annual Cherry Street Blossom Festival, Mayor John Ernst began to include a quote in each news release: “When we get out of the pandemic, hopefully by this summer, we are going to have one hell of a celebration in Brookhaven.”
His promise is poised to become reality.
The city recently approved a $325,000 budget for the Cherry Blossom Summer Block Party, and then increased it Tuesday by another $130,000 in anticipation of sponsorships and vendor agreements. The event is expected to dwarf earlier Cherry Blossom parties. Typically, Brookhaven budgets $290,000 for a year’s worth of marquee events.
City spokesman Burke Brennan said the event will take place Friday, July 30 from 3 to 11 p.m. and Saturday, July 31 from noon to 11 p.m. The city has not confirmed a location.
No other details of the party have been released at this point. Among the unanswered questions: Whether the event will require pandemic safety protocols such as masks and distancing.
During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Councilwoman Linley Jones was excited about the event, calling it a “coming out party for the whole city of Brookhaven post-pandemic.”
Ernst was similarly supportive, adding that he hopes to incorporate a “heroes parade” during the party for first responders, front-line workers and healthcare workers. On Wednesday, Ernst had no other information to offer, saying “The details are not finalized.”
Brookhaven has also apparently contacted other DeKalb County cities to participate. During a recent Stonecrest meeting, Mayor Pro Tem George Turner said Brookhaven might have “jumped the gun a little bit” with their party plans. Turner mentioned the block party would be at the Brookhaven MARTA station.
“They’re going to have a massive party celebrating the end of the COVID pandemic this summer,” Turner said at an April 26 meeting. “They’re asking all of the cities to participate, but we need to know that we’re in the clear before I commit to participating in a massive party.”
Ernst has voiced his frustration at how the pandemic has hurt businesses, especially restaurants and bars. In March, Brookhaven extended alcohol pouring hours for bars during the NBA All-Star Weekend, breaking with Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who dissuaded travel and gatherings.
In social media posts and interviews, Ernst has encouraged residents to get vaccinated and re-enter public spaces as they feel comfortable.
“At the point in which everyone has the ability to get a vaccine, I cannot allow folks who are not willing to get a vaccine to hold back the rest of the folks,” he previously told the AJC. “... If they don’t want to get a vaccine, at some point, it becomes on them.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, Brookhaven’s City Council voted to allow its mask mandate for outdoor activities to expire June 18, matching a recent recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vote also allowed restaurants to operate at full capacity.
In early April, Gov. Brian Kemp loosened the state’s COVID-19 restrictions for many industries and ended a ban on gatherings of 50 people or more. The CDC and President Joe Biden have urged states to pause reopening to buy more time for people to get vaccinated.
The CDC currently recommends masks be worn among fully vaccinated crowds.
A DeKalb County Board of Health spokesman was unaware of Brookhaven’s party plan.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it … and that usually means we haven’t been made aware of it, so I’ll certainly share this. Of course, this also means we are unable to make any comment until we know additional details,” Eric Nickens said in an email.
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