PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island has opened the door to large-scale summer events and is inviting organizations that want to hold them to contact the R.I. Commerce Corp. to start that planning process.
Effective Friday, Rhode Island will allow up to 50% capacity, or 250 people, at indoor venues, such as theaters, forums and auditoriums, and 500 at outdoor venues.
But organizers have started contacting the state about how to plan for even bigger events this spring and summer. Stefan Pryor, the R.I. secretary of commerce, said Thursday that these event planners should contact the Department of Business Regulation now, so the state can start to work with them on approaches for future events.
As an example, he said the state is already planning with the organizers of the Newport jazz and folk festivals, which had to be canceled in 2020.
For events that start May 1, the state is looking at approval for up to 1,000 participants at outdoor events, or some percentage of more-limited attendance for indoor events, Pryor said. “We want to provide predictability where we can,” Pryor said.
The state may implement safety protocols such as testing requirements for COVID-19, or regulation of the physical spaces, such as at pinch points, he said.
Much of that is in flux but the state wants to get a sense of who is planning what, and will work with them, Pryor said.
“We are especially interested in events that are targeted to begin in mid-July,” Pryor said. “We will provide additional updates on large events over the coming weeks and months. We expect that during the summer, larger events, and ever larger over time, can begin to happen in Rhode Island. We’re renowned for our events. It makes for a phenomenal summer.”
Mary MacDonald is a staff writer for PBN. Contact her at macdonald@pbn.com.
