LIST: Event organizers announce schedule changes amid coronavirus concerns

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Several Lowcountry organizers have announced changes to their events as the number of cases of the novel coronavirus grows nationwide.

Here is a list of events scheduled for the next few weeks in the Lowcountry with the latest word from organizers:

• ANNUAL COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AWARD RECEPTION - POSTPONED: The Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation is postponing its Commitment to Justice Award Reception honoring Christine Osburn Jackson. The event, which was scheduled for Thursday at the Francis Marion Hotel, will be held at a date to be determined. Organizers are working to reschedule this event and will update everyone once the new date has been set.
• BABY SHARK LIVE! - POSTPONED: The May 12 performance of Baby Shark Live! at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center has been postponed and rescheduled for a later date to be announced. Tickets for the May 12 performance will be honored for the rescheduled date and refunds are available at point of purchase if ticket buyers are unable to attend the rescheduled performance, North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center spokesman Alan Coker said. The current tour, previously scheduled to play over 100 cities across the US and Canada through June 27, 2020, will announce new dates as soon as possible.
• BENEFITFOCUS ONE PLACE 2020 - CHANGE ANNOUNCED: BenefitFocus announced Monday its One Place 2020 Event scheduled for March 17-19 at the Gaillard Center will become a virtual event only. This step was deemed necessary to protect the health of those planning to attend the event, company spokesman George Evanko said. Details regarding registration and viewing sessions for the virtual conference will be made available in the coming days and posted online at https://www.benefitfocus.com/one-place. Attendees for this year’s One Place will be reimbursed for their registration fees. Representatives of Benefitfocus are directly contacting those who had registered to attend with further details on next steps.
• BLACK EXPO AT CHARLESTON AREA CONVENTION CENTER - POSTPONED - Black Expo 2020 scheduled for Saturday, March 14 at the Charleston Area Convention Center has been postponed. A rescheduled date will be announced soon.
• CHARLESTON AIR EXPO - CANCELED: Officials at Joint Base Charleston say the Charleston Air Expo is canceled. The event was set for the third weekend of April. In a facebook post, event officials say they “regret the missed opportunity to showcase their mission” but say the decision was made with the safety of the community in mind. Refunds will be given for anyone who purchased upgraded seating. The Charleston Air Expo will not be rescheduled to a later date. The demands of planning an event of this magnitude and the limited availability of performers make rescheduling nearly impossible.
• CHARLESTON GOSPEL CHOIR 2020 SPRING PERFORMANCE - POSTPONED: The Charleston Gospel Choir 2020 spring performance entitled A Tribute to Sergeant Isaac Woodard, scheduled for April 4, 2020 at 6 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 342 Meeting Street, Charleston has been postponed until further notice.
• CHARLESTON POLICE TRUST AND SECURITY COMMUNITY SUMMIT - CANCELED: The Trust and Security Community Summit which was to be held Monday has been canceled, Charleston Police say on their Facebook page.
• CHER CONCERT AT NORTH CHARLESTON COLISEUM - POSTPONED - The upcoming Cher concert at the North Charleston Coliseum scheduled for March 20 has been postponed to Sept. 12.
• CHARLESTON ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE - CANCELED: The city of Charleston announced Thursday afternoon it has canceled its St. Patrick’s Day Parade scheduled for Tuesday. Both the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division I parade, which was scheduled to begin at the corner of Radcliffe and King Streets; and the Hibernian Society parade, which was scheduled to begin on East Bay Street, are canceled, city spokesman Jack O’Toole confirmed.
• COOPER RIVER BRIDGE RUN - POSTPONED: The Cooper River Bridge Run has been postponed until Aug. 1, 2020, according to race director Irv Batten.
• DIG SOUTH TECH SUMMIT - POSTPONED: DIG SOUTH Tech Summit has been rescheduled for July 22-24 at the Charleston Gaillard Center in Charleston. “The DIG Team is closely monitoring COVID-19 updates and following the current guidance from the leading government and health authorities to ensure we are taking responsible actions to protect the health and safety of attendees, speakers, sponsors, team members and the greater community," officials said.
• FLOWERTOWN FESTIVAL - RESCHEDULED: The Summerville Flowertown Festival has been rescheduled for September. Organizers said the Summerville Family YMCA and the town of Summerville have agreed to reschedule the 48th annual Summerville Family YMCA Flowertown Festival to take place on September 4, 5 and 6, 2020.
• HEBRON ZION PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FRESH PRODUCE GIVEAWAY- CANCELLED: The giveaway, scheduled for March 28 on Johns Island, has been canceled until further notice.
• 2020 iFiveK RACE - CANCELED: The Charleston Digital Corridor’s annual iFiveK race is canceled. All registered participants will receive a full refund.
• LAUREN DAIGLE - RESCHEDULED: Lauren Daigle’s concert scheduled for Thursday night at the North Charleston Coliseum has been rescheduled to Aug. 17. Previously purchased tickets for the concert will be honored for the rescheduled date. If ticket buyers are unable to attend on August 17, refunds are available at point of purchase.
• NEEDTOBREATHE CLASSIC - POSTPONED: The 2020 NEEDTOBREATHE Classic celebrity golf tournament and concert benefiting OneWorld Health, which was originally scheduled for March 30 at the Daniel Island Club, has been postponed until October. No specific date has been released. “We have celebrities, sponsors and players traveling in from around the country, and we don’t want to unnecessarily put them or any of our team here in Charleston in harm’s way,” Britt Gilbert, founder of Commonwealth Cares Foundation, which organizes the annual event, said in a statement Friday. “It’s never an easy decision to postpone an event, but the health and safety of everyone involved is our primary concern. We would much prefer to err on the side of caution.”
• NORTH CHARLESTON POPS! CONCERT - RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 - The North Charleston POPS! “We’ve Only Just Begun-Carpenter Remembered” concert scheduled for Saturday, April 18 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center is postponed. The concert is rescheduled for Saturday, August 15. Previously purchased tickets for the concert will be honored for the rescheduled date.
• NORTHWOODS MALL EASTER EVENTS/PHOTO OPP - CANCELED: Northwoods Mall says it is canceling or postponing all planned events, including its seasonal Easter Bunny photo program.
• PRAISE OUT CANCER WALKATHON- POSTPONED: The Praise Out Cancer Walkathon scheduled for March 28 has been rescheduled for May 30. The event is meant to encourage those who are fighting cancer, to remember those who have lost that battle and to celebrate those who have won the battle against cancer.
• SCDNR YOUTH FISHING TOURNAMENT - POSTPONED: The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has made the decision to postpone the 2020 SCDNR Youth Fishing Tournament scheduled for March 28. “We’ve considered many alternatives and heard your input,” SCDNR Aquatic Education Coordinator Sarah Chabaane said. “I value all the time, effort, and resources that student anglers, coaches, parents and boat captains put into preparing for this event.” SCDNR will continue to evaluate the options of rescheduling as the next few weeks progress.
• 2ND SUNDAY ON KING STREET - CANCELED: The City of Charleston, the State of South Carolina, and The Charleston Peninsula Preservation Trust canceled the April 12 2nd Sunday on King Street and will evaluate the viability of future months’ events.
• SHUCKIN’ IN THE PARK OYSTER ROAST - CANCELED: This weekend’s 21st Annual Shuckin’ in the Park Oyster Roast at Old Santee Canal Park has been canceled. Ticket refunds will be available at the park beginning Monday. “In the interest of public safety, and based on recommendations from health experts around the country about similar events, we have cancelled the oyster roast,” Brad Sale, director of Old Santee Canal Park, said. Shuckin’ in the Park will be scheduled to return next March.
• SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS AWARDS - POSTPONED: Leadership from the South Carolina Arts Commission and University of South Carolina McKissick Museum decided together that now is the time to postpone the South Carolina Arts Awards originally scheduled for May 6. A new date will be announced at a later time.
• SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTH CAROLINA - CANCELED: Special Olympics South Carolina announced Tuesday it is canceling three statewide events (including State Basketball on March 14, the annual Statehouse Rally for Special Olympics on March 31, and the State Cheer Competition April 25). It is also suspending all local competitions and practices until March 31. Special Olympics Programs worldwide are very strongly advised to suspend all sport training and competition activities and other activations involving our athletes through 31 March 2020, at which time the situation will be reevaluated. The Charleston/Dorchester Spring Games that had been scheduled for March 18. The decision was made because of a mandate by Special Olympics International that affected regions cancel local event held by or involving athletes from that region.
• THEATER FOR YOUTH FESTIVAL - CANCELED: The South Carolina Theatre Association announced Friday it is cancelling the 2020 Theater for Youth Festival which was to be held April 4. “We chose to make this decision now to give all our participants advance notice and to begin the arduous process of refunding any payments received to date and canceling any outstanding invoices,” Executive Director Anita Sleeman said in a statement.
• VOLVO CAR OPEN - CANCELED - The Volvo Car Open has been canceled due to concerns with coronavirus. Officials announced on Thursday that the event, scheduled for April 4 - 12, is not moving forward. According to a statement by organizers, there many factors that led to the decision including: the worldwide concern over coronavirus, the decision to cancel the Miami Open and the travel advisory issued by the WTA tour for players based upon travel restrictions for Europe.
• 2020 WORLD GRITS FESTIVAL - CANCELED: The 2020 World Grits Festival scheduled for St. George on April 17-19 has been canceled, Police Chief Brett Camp said. The festival will return in 20201.

This list will be updated as additional announcements are made. Check back for updates.

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