On Friday night, the Burlington City Arts’ Highlight Burlington festival returned with performances in-person at Waterfront Park and on Pine Street, as well as virtually. Two days before Christmas, the BCA decided to move all of their indoor, in-person performances to these outdoor locations over concerns of Covid-19 and the omicron variant. “Obviously in the past couple of weeks the Covid-19 scene has changed significantly,” Zach Williamson, the Festival Director at BCA, said. “Most artists were really pleased they were moved because they were also concerned about performing. They wanted to do it, it’s a great event. It’s a great thing for performing artists to get to do but obviously it is a little challenging right now.”Festival director Zach Williamson said the move was a scramble to organize performers, production and vendors into new locations. The musicians and acts were given a choice to stay in-person or play online.Emma Cook, who performed at Highlight a few years ago, returned to play two sets at Waterfront Park.” gives the option to folks who feel comfortable in this space to be here and mask up,” Cook said. “All of us are just taking it day-by-day because we’re just changing so much and we want to keep the community safe and make sure everyone is comfortable.” Some people came out Friday to enjoy Highlight for the very first time. Ben Berchinsky from Costa Rica proposed to his now fiancé May Alfaro on their trip to Vermont. They decided to check out Highlight as a fun way to ring in the New Year and celebrate their engagement.”It’s different than what we’re used to and we like it,” Berchinsky said. “We love Vermont. It’s our first time here and we’ll definitely be back.”Williamson expects that future Highlight festivals will include virtual performances, regardless of Covid-19 being a concern.
On Friday night, the Burlington City Arts’ Highlight Burlington festival returned with performances in-person at Waterfront Park and on Pine Street, as well as virtually.
Two days before Christmas, the BCA decided to move all of their indoor, in-person performances to these outdoor locations over concerns of Covid-19 and the omicron variant.
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“Obviously in the past couple of weeks the Covid-19 scene has changed significantly,” Zach Williamson, the Festival Director at BCA, said. “Most artists were really pleased they were moved because they were also concerned about performing. They wanted to do it, it’s a great event. It’s a great thing for performing artists to get to do but obviously it is a little challenging right now.”
Festival director Zach Williamson said the move was a scramble to organize performers, production and vendors into new locations. The musicians and acts were given a choice to stay in-person or play online.
Emma Cook, who performed at Highlight a few years ago, returned to play two sets at Waterfront Park.
“[The move] gives the option to folks who feel comfortable in this space to be here and mask up,” Cook said. “All of us are just taking it day-by-day because we’re just changing so much and we want to keep the community safe and make sure everyone is comfortable.”
Some people came out Friday to enjoy Highlight for the very first time.
Ben Berchinsky from Costa Rica proposed to his now fiancé May Alfaro on their trip to Vermont. They decided to check out Highlight as a fun way to ring in the New Year and celebrate their engagement.
“It’s different than what we’re used to and we like it,” Berchinsky said. “We love Vermont. It’s our first time here and we’ll definitely be back.”
Williamson expects that future Highlight festivals will include virtual performances, regardless of Covid-19 being a concern.
