Ocean Springs block party planned on Fourth of July is canceled, mayor says
The Fourth of July block party planned in Ocean Springs is canceled, Mayor Shea Dobson said Sunday morning on Facebook Live.
The decision was made after consulting with medical and legal professionals, he said.
“Frankly, I didn’t want to cancel the event but I’m not the only whose opinion matters, I’m not the only one whose perspective matters.”
He said shutting Government Street down, which the city often does for holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, would have allowed people to socially distance outdoors.
Those events typically draw large crowds, and state health officials have specifically advised that large block parties will allow the coronavirus to spread quickly between strangers.
“It’s just not the time to hold significant block parties,” State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs said on June 2. COVID-19 cases have been skyrocketing in neighboring Harrison County, and continue to rise steadily in Jackson County.
Dobson, a Libertarian, also mentioned how disappointed he was to have to cancel the event because “the whole point of celebrating Independence Day is to celebrate our freedoms.”
The Ocean Springs fireworks display will still go on as planned at 8:45 p.m. Friday on Front Beach.
Dobson also said the city is watching to see what happens Sunday in the Legislature, and if the state flag will change.
He said if lawmakers vote to change the flag, it will come down from Ocean Springs City Hall, per city ordinance requiring the official state flag to fly.
