Callaway County will have to wait until 2021 to blow out its candles.
The county's Bicentennial Bash planned for Aug. 29 has been postponed until next year following a unanimous vote Thursday by the Callaway 200.
"We've come to the conclusion we're not sure we can pull this off in a safe manner that'll be fun for the public," said Renee Stack Graham, committee member and Callaway County director of tourism. "There's just so many moving parts, and we're so close to the event, and there's so many unknowns."
Graham said potential opening bands for the event have been contacting the committee with questions about safety, and many have canceled planned tours due to the ongoing global pandemic.
Committee member Barb Huddleston noted during recent Fourth of July events in Fulton, participants didn't seem to be following social-distancing guidelines, and many failed to wear masks.
"I agree - for the safety of community, and if we're going to continue to use the same volunteers, they're going to end up being in that elderly bracket. We don't want to put them at risk," Hanna Lechner, committee member and Holts Summit city administrator, said. "They're the ones who're going to suffer the most."
Committee members agreed they're not ready to give up on the Bicentennial Bash yet. They plan to reschedule it for next year - likely in spring or early summer, though no date has yet been set. The event was to be Callaway County's largest celebration of 200 years as a Missouri county.
2021 is Missouri's bicentennial, and Boone County - which also reached its 200th birthday as a county in 2020 - plans to delay its events until next year as well, Graham said.
"We might want to try to focus on smaller activities through the end of the year to still commemorate the bicentennial," Graham said.
She expressed gratitude toward sponsors and said they'll be contacted regarding this decision soon.
The committee still has two events planned for November: a tri-county statue unveiling with Boone and Cole counties, and the dedication of a bicentennial time capsule. Towns throughout the county will be invited to contribute to the capsule. Other small, social-distancing-friendly events may be added.
This decision comes with a few costs - monetary and human.
Callaway 200's liability insurance expires in November, and extending it for another year is likely to be costly, according committee co-chair John Bell said. The committee also plans to pay to renew its Callaway Chamber of Commerce membership. It will also have to spend on ongoing advertising.
To help offset costs, the committee plans to continue selling Callaway 200 merchandise during the Fulton Farmers Market and special events.
In terms of human cost, most committee members thought their obligation would end after the closing events in late 2020 - now they face added months of planning and meetings.
"I think our volunteers are worn out," committee member Bruce Hackmann said. "It's going to be a challenge to re-motivate them for next year."
But the meeting's overall mood was one of determination.
"We feel we need to pause, pull back together and see what we can do for 2021," Graham said.