Adhering to Rhode Island's new guidelines on major outdoor events, the Chorus of Westerly's 40th Summer Pops, originally scheduled for June, has been postponed until September.

Subject to conditions being appropriate and final state approval in the later summer, the event's rescheduled date is Sept. 11, with a rain date of Sept. 12. The event will take place in Westerly's Wilcox Park

While the structure of the rescheduled Pops will be similar to a June-based edition, the performance will also include a special focus on the community's emergence from the COVID crisis. The program will include appropriate recognition of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, as we ll.

This is the second year in a row where health conditions have forced a postponement of a Summer Pops in June. Last year, the Chorus briefly considered presenting Pops in September, but conditions never eased enough to allow the event to take place. For this coming September, however, projections from state officials are more optimistic.

The Chorus stated that, weighing these projections and acknowledging the importance of Summer Pops to the community, it felt it was now proper to begin planning for the rescheduled September date.

For scheduling reasons related to the availability of the performers, technical staff, and use of the park, the weekend of September 11-12 is currently the only viable alternate weekend for Summer Pops. 

"It is wonderful to be planning a Pops again and to think about getting back together with our community," said Andrew Howell, music director of the Chorus of Westerly. "We are starting to build a very special program that should really connect with our audience as we emerge from COVID. It will also have a proper moment for us all to collectively remember September 11, 2001. These have been difficult, sad, times for us all. But being assembled again under the stars will likely remind us all of all the good we collectively share."

As the summer progresses and other news is available, the Chorus will post updates to its Summer Pops planning on its social media pages and on its website: chorusofwesterly.org. The Chorus will also continue to work closely with the appropriate state and local officials to plan the event in the months ahead.

In the meantime, the Chorus of Westerly has begun actively raising funds for the concert via its website and by accepting donations to The Chorus of Westerly at 119 High St., Westerly, R.I.