Crawfordsville Main Street will still serve up lunch downtown this summer — with social distancing.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced Main Street to change plans for the annual Lunch on the Plaza series at Marie Canine Plaza. The event will feature the traditional menu samplings from downtown eateries and live music, but restaurant employees will not serve food on site and seating will be limited and spaced apart. A September date is also being added to the calendar.
“We’re calling it LOP 2.0,” Sue Lucas, Main Street program manager, said about the changes.
This year’s events are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 19, July 17, Aug. 14 and Sept. 18. The Crawfordsville Board of Public Works and Safety approved the dates at its virtual meeting Wednesday.
Lucas emphasized the plans could change depending on public health guidelines. Event updates will be posted on Main Street’s social media pages.
“If the state of Indiana feels it’s necessary to dial back on gatherings, our events will be postponed,” Lucas said.
June’s event features carry-out chicken and noodles from Allen’s Country Kitchen and jazz musician Danny Weiss. No on-site catered lunch or drinks are being sold, and spectators can bring their own lunch.
Other protective steps include minimal seating for about 50 people with tables placed 15 feet apart, a hand washing station, hand sanitizer and free mask for spectators. Main Street volunteers, who will wear masks and check their temperatures before events, are tasked with disinfecting tables between each spectator.
The plans were prepared in cooperation with the Montgomery County Health Department and the City of Crawfordsville.
The virus has also changed the plans for the First Friday concert series at Pike Place, which was set to kick off July 3. The city has ordered no large gatherings in the park until after Independence Day when the state is scheduled to fully reopen. Plans are in place to host a virtual performance with musician Michael Kelsey in July.
“We didn’t feel like we were ready to have a live event of this size,” Lucas said.
The board also approved the city’s annual agreement with Main Street. The city is paying the organization $27,000, in 10 installments of $2,700, for its services. Main Street will also be reimbursed $4,650 for Pike Place landscaping.
In other business, the board:
• Approved an $800 agreement with J&D Tree Surgery to remove a hazardous tree in the 700 block of South Water Street.
• Approved requests from code enforcement officer Barry Lewis for the street department to mow eight properties.
