Concord’s KidFest, Contra Costa Con 2 canceled for 2020
Bay Are Festivals has announced it is regrettably canceling several more events this year. Canceled events include the 31st annual Bay Area KidFest in downtown Concord at Mt. Diablo High School and Contra Costa Con 2 at the Concord Hilton.
The Clayton-based company has now had 10 2020 events canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic that has brought the festival, fairs and concert business to a screeching halt around the country and beyond.
Contra Costa Con was held for the first time in 2019. Its second edition was to be July 19 at the Hilton. Just like KidFest had been rescheduled from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend when the pandemic first caused shelter in place orders, Contra Costa Con 2 was delayed to Sept. 20.
Now, both events, along with the 5th annual Bay Area Kids’ Book Fairs in Dublin and Sunnyvale and the inaugural Tri-Valley Con in Dublin have been canceled by Bay Area Festivals for 2020.
30 years of Kidfest
KidFest has been held in Concord for the past 30 years. The city of Concord began the festival on Memorial Day Weekend in 1990. Bay Area Festivals was founded by Jay Bedecarré in 2009 when he took the reins of running KidFest from his friend Beth Clark, who established the Concord tradition as the East Bay’s largest annual children’s event.
KidFest moved from Todos Santos Plaza to Mt. Diablo High starting in 2010. KidFest greatly expanded its offerings at the larger venue with rides, traveling attractions and more.
Contra Costa Con 2
Bay Area Festivals announced this week that Contra Costa Con 2 will be held July 18, 2021 at the Concord Hilton and Tri-Valley Halloween Con will be in Dublin on Oct. 31 next year. The Kids’ Book Fairs will be Oct. 16-17, 2021.
Bedecarré says KidFest 2021 dates are still under discussion. He explains that the preference is to be held May 29-31 on Memorial Day Weekend. However, the ability to hold large public gatherings will be the final part of the economy to come back on board. Many experts think that integral part of the community experience may not come back for another year. This means a 2021 Labor Day Weekend KidFest is a possibility.
For further updates visit KidFest or Contra Costa Con websites.