No restrictions for Music Festival, First Friday-Taste events

With two of the summer’s biggest Greencastle events on the horizon, no mandates or restrictions are in place, the Putnam County Board of Health has confirmed.

The 11th Greencastle Music Festival is on as scheduled for this Friday and Saturday night on the courthouse square, while the following Friday, Sept. 3 the square venue will see the monthly First Friday celebration staged in conjunction with the annual Taste of Putnam County.

Despite Putnam County still being one of Indiana’s 11 red counties currently, no state or local mandates exist, confirmed Brian Williams, Putnam Board of Health preparedness coordinator.

Ultimately self-regulation will instead govern those events, he suggested.

“It’s up to the individual” to take precautions, Williams told the Banner Graphic Tuesday.

“Use common-sense practices,” he urged spectators before venturing into a crowd.

The situation is no different than previous First Friday gatherings, the recent Putnam County Fair or the ongoing outdoor concerts at the Ruoff Music Center (formerly Deer Creek) north of Indianapolis.

There will be no restriction on numbers of spectators for either local event in the next 10 days.

Attendees are urged to wear a mask and refrain from coming to the concert if they are sick or have tested positive for COVID-19.

In light of the ongoing pandemic, organizers are working to balance the enjoyment and safety of attendees, vendors and musicians alike.

A number of sanitation stations will be provided for concert-goers. Masks will be available. Attendees will be encouraged to wear masks but their use will not be required.

The 2021 Music Festival lineup will feature live music both Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Friday’s lineup includes the Woomblies Rock Orchestra and its classic rock genre from 6:30-8:30, followed by country singer Josh Paige, 8:30-11.

On Saturday, the Tommy Kelly Band will kick things off at 4 p.m., followed by modern country singer Haley Mae Campbell at 6 before the Louisville show-stoppers, The Crashers, take the stage at 8:30.

Admission is $10 per person per night this year (a $15 weekend pass is available online) with children under age 10 admitted free. For more information or to buy tickets, persons can go to www.greencastlemusicfest.com.

Information on Taste of Putnam County is expected to be released next week. Persons can also go to Chamber@goputco.com.