Atlanta Science Festival cancels expo due to coronavirus pandemic
The Atlanta Science Festival Exploration Expo, an annual event that brings hundreds to Piedmont Park in a celebration of all things science and technology, has been canceled due to the growing coronavirus pandemic.
Festival organizers made the announcement within hours of the World Health Organization’s declaration that the COVID-19 virus has become a pandemic. Tens of thousands have been infected, and the virus is responsible for a growing number of deaths globally.
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The expo was to have been held on March 21.
“Given the hands-on nature of the Exploration Expo and the expected large numbers of people in attendance, the organizers feel it would be best to cancel the event to help ensure the safety of the public,” organizers said in the statement.
The two-week festival began on March 6, with a series of small events across metro Atlanta, from nature walks to STEM events for high school students hosted by local colleges. Some of the smaller events may go on as scheduled, but potential attendees should check atlantasciencefestival.org/events-2020 for updates.
UPDATE:
Unfortunately our program scheduled for Saturday, "Ask A Scientist," has been canceled in an effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. @wabenews @ATLSciFest pic.twitter.com/2VTMyutyR6
— Jimmy Carter Library (@CarterLibrary) March 12, 2020
About the Author
Rosalind Bentley is an award-winning feature writer focusing on culture, arts and sometimes food, as they are expressed and experienced in Atlanta. She is a two-time James Beard Award finalist and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
