Citing public safety and state guidelines for social distancing, the City of Geneva’s Cultural Arts Commission has canceled the 2020 RiverPark Summer Concert Series and Shakespeare in the Park events this July.

“With an uncertain summer ahead due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of other popular Geneva festivals, the Cultural Arts Commission decided to cancel its outdoor events out of safety concerns,” said Commission Chair Tim Vetang.

Shakespeare in the Park will go virtual this year with an online presentation of the comedy “Much Ado About Nothing” performed by Elgin-based Goodly Creatures theater company. The performance will be released in July and will be available to view on the City’s website and YouTube. Residents can stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

“Although we had to take the precaution of canceling our event, we still wanted to produce a Shakespeare play for our loyal fans,” said event co-chair Gail Gaboda. “Our free event has been a gift to the community for 13 years, and an online performance is a means to connect with our audience while they follow the state’s safety guidelines.”

The RiverPark Summer Concert Series will resume in 2021. All four musical acts slated to take the stage this summer will return next year, including the Illinois Brass Band, The MacCartyns, Good Clean Fun Band and School of Rock Geneva House Band.

“It’s incredibly difficult to disappoint our dedicated fans who have come out to the concerts over the years, but we promise to give everyone great performances next summer,” said event chair Lisa Hellman.

For the latest information regarding Geneva’s COVID-19 response, visit the City’s website.