Speed Street postponed again — to October. Here’s what to expect at the festival.
Editor’s note: COVID-19 has again postponed Speed Street. The festival will now be Oct. 7-9 to coincide with the NASCAR Bank of America Roval 400.
On a chilly, gray morning in February 2020, CharlotteFive met with the Circle K Speed Street team to discuss some exciting news: the 600 Festival would be moving to Romare Bearden Park. It would be free again, and for the first time, you’d be able to bring your dog.
The event in May would have included some other exciting changes, including the addition of potentially 10,000 baseball fans: The ACC Baseball Championship would be going on during the same time next door at BB&T Ballpark.
That was before COVID-19 reached the Charlotte community — a lifetime ago. If you’re finding it difficult to imagine 10,000 of any fans in one place anymore, you’re not alone. But on that day a year ago, none of us knew what was ahead. We just knew the excitement for spring, then summer, was just around the corner, and Charlotte’s largest street festival was going to be a big part of that.
When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, the Speed Street team postponed the event, and then postponed again, and now — again. Mark your calendar for Oct. 7-9, 2021.
The event was set to coincide with the 2021 Memorial Day weekend running of the 62nd Coca-Cola 600. Now, it is timed to the Bank of America Roval 400.
Other 600 Festival events will also be postponed including Movies on the Campus in Kannapolis, Zucchini 600 in Kannapolis, Haulers on Union Parade & Fan Fest presented by Freightliner in Concord and the Little 600 in Mooresville.
Organizers made the decision to postpone the event the second time — and now a third time — after multiple discussions with health authorities, public officials, partners and event organizers.
As for the 2021 Circle K Speed Street festival in Charlotte, it will still be at Romare Bearden Park, and it will still be free, and yes, you can still bring your dog.
Jacqueline Gafrarar, managing director of the 600 Festival, told CharlotteFive that 2020 would have marked her 23rd year of working with the festival, which has been running for 26 years.
“Making the decision to postpone the first time certainly gave me a light at the end of the tunnel,” Gafrarar told CharlotteFive. “Having to make the decision to postpone a second time was definitely disheartening. When you put your heart and soul into something and it doesn’t happen, you go through many emotions.”
Gafrarar said she is thankful to have great partners that understand the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and crowded events, and the team all worked together to make the best decision for everyone involved. “Now we are planning for the 2021 event to be bigger, better and the best one yet.”
CIRCLE K SPEED STREET
Romare Bearden Park
300 S. Church St.
Musical performers will be announced in mid-2021.
This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 12:01 PM.
