Local

Tacoma’s official Fourth of July celebration postponed

TACOMA, Wash. — Though things are slowly reopening in Washington, large events are still being canceled and postponed.

One such event is Tacoma’s Fourth of July T-Town Family 4th celebration.

According to Metro Parks Tacoma and city officials, a community-wide event may be planned for later in the summer when social distancing requirements are lifted, and it is deemed safe to hold large gatherings.

>>Report: COVID-19 transmission rate may be rising in King County, western Washington

“As much as we were looking forward to this fun family event, we must remain vigilant and focused on the safety and well-being of our community and take measures to reduce the spread of this pandemic,” said Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards. “I look forward to a time we can come together as a community again and celebrate.”

Last year, the city partnered with Metro Parks to manage the annual Fourth of July celebration.

Large events have been banned in Pierce County since March 11. Fourth of July events throughout Western Washington are anticipated to be postponed or canceled as a result of the pandemic.

“Postponing the event is the right thing to do in the interest of public health,” said Tim Reid, president of the Board of Park Commissioners. “We will continue to monitor the situation and hope for an opportunity to host a community-wide event in a few months. We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding.”