Out of an abundance of caution and due to the global novel Coronavirus pandemic, the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department and various event planners are working together to cancel events related to Butte’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Immediate event cancelations include Butte’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, previously scheduled for Tuesday, March 17. Also canceled is the annual St. Patrick’s Day brunch, sponsored by Butte Catholic Community North, and previously scheduled for March 15; the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick event, previously scheduled for March 16; and the Butte Democratic Center Committee’s annual Shillelagh Shindig, also previously scheduled for March 16.
Also canceled is the annual Handing Down the Heritage event at the Butte Civic Center, previously scheduled for the evening of St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. The event is traditionally attended by about 1,500 people, young and old alike.
The decision to cancel or postpone St. Patrick’s Day events was cautionary. To date, Montana has no confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19.
“The community and event planners have been so cooperative as we have worked with them,” said Karen Sullivan, health officer for Butte-Silver Bow County. “Though we have no confirmed cases in Montana, let alone Butte-Silver Bow, everyone is incredibly understanding of our desire to be cautious.”
In addition to canceling or postponing events related to St. Patrick’s Day, the Health Department is working with other event planners, including Bill Melvin, manager of the Butte Civic Center.
According to Sullivan, Melvin has been working extensively with event planners, including those involved in the following event that were previously scheduled for March and April:
• The annual Skyline Sportsmen’s Banquet, which has been rescheduled
• The Roller Derby Bout – Melvin continues to work with event planners to cancel or reschedule
• The Foreigner concert, which has been rescheduled to the fall
• The Advantage Butte volleyball tournament – Melvin continues to work with event planners to cancel or reschedule
• The annual Empty Bowls fund-raiser – the event will be moved to a later date
• The Gold Prospectors Trade Show – Melvin continues to work with event planners to cancel or reschedule
• The annual Butte Rescue Mission dinner – Melvin continues to work with event planners to cancel or reschedule
• The Journey Church Easter Service – Melvin continues to work with event planners to cancel or reschedule
• The Jordan Circus – Melvin continues to work with event planners to cancel or reschedule
• The Bacon & Brew Fest – Melvin continues to work with event planners to cancel or reschedule
Civic Center events scheduled in May and beyond will be assessed as time goes on, Sullivan said.
The annual Montana Trails, Recreation and Parks Association Conference, scheduled April 19-22, has been canceled, according to J.P. Gallagher, Butte-Silver Bow Parks and Recreation director.
Sullivan said the Health Department will continue to work with the Butte Ministerial Association, in regard to advising association members on church services. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church will proceed. Church officials said that hand sanitizers are placed throughout the church, and the Diocese of Helena has advised on other precautionary practices, which the church is following.
The Health Department continues to advise that congregate settings be avoided by people 60 and older, those with chronic health conditions and those with suppressed immune systems, as those populations are particularly susceptible to COVID-19.
For more information contact:
Karen Sullivan - (406) 497-5003 - ksullivan@bsb.mt.gov
Matt Boyle - (406) 498-3549