Aspinwall's Big Night Out community event canceled because of coronavirus concerns

An Aspinwall fundraiser that brought in more than $20,000 in 2019 is canceled this year amid covid-19 concerns.

The Big Night Out, scheduled for Aug. 4, is hosted annually by the Aspinwall Neighborhood Watch (ANW) and pegged as the borough’s largest community event. Last year, it saw 1,200 visitors converge at the borough’s ball park along Field Avenue.

“Aside from not knowing if it would be safe to host the event, local restaurants and small businesses are the backbone of the event and our fundraising,” ANW spokesperson Sarah Shaffer said. “We couldn’t imagine asking businesses for money when they were hurting so badly from the shutdowns.”

The festivities draw neighbors from across the Lower Valley in a celebration of support for local first responders. Proceeds in 2019 were split between the borough’s police, fire department and Foxwall EMS.

This year, money was targeted again for the fire crews as well as ANW’s new Good Neighbor grant program.

Just prior to the covid-19 crisis, ANW started planning for its 11th annual event.

The group had planned to announce the event’s new name — Aspinwall’s Big Night Out — and a partnership with the PA Resource Council to create programs that benefit the environment.

“We were so excited to bring our neighbors together for what has become one of Aspinwall’s largest community gatherings and our favorite event of the year,” Shaffer said.

“We are still looking forward to a time when it is safe to bring our neighbors together, but unfortunately it won’t be for Aspinwall’s Big Night Out.”