Monroeville jazz fest canceled for first time in its 17 years

For the first time in its 17 years, the annual Monroeville Jazz Festival has been canceled.

The event was originally scheduled for Aug. 15, and organizers from the Monroeville Foundation held out on canceling. The festival typically draws thousands from the region for a jazz-themed day at the municipality’s Tall Trees Amphitheater.

“We were hoping for better news as we moved through the summer. But with the spike in (covid-19) cases reported in Allegheny County, we knew it wouldn’t be anything that we could have with comfort and responsibility,” said Debbie Iszauk, event planner at the Monroeville Foundation.

Any event of more than 250 people — including concerts, festivals, fairs, conferences, sporting events, movie showings or theater performances — is prohibited under Gov. Tom Wolf’s green phase reopening plan.

Allegheny County reported 45 new coronavirus cases Monday, more than twice as many from the previous day. County officials reported 19 new cases Tuesday. The spike comes a little less than a week after a day of no new cases, and two weeks following the state’s move into the green phase.

“We can’t add to that,” Iszauk said. “We want to be part of the community in a responsible and healthy way — and to do good in the community. It’s our responsibility to not add to the increase of cases here.”

Iszauk said the jazz festival will be back next year, with artists making commitments to return.