Independence Day celebration canceled in Darlington

It is a small piece of Americana, and news that the small town of Darlington would not be turning out to celebrate the nation’s birthday will disappoint many of its 400 townspeople.

HARFORD COUNTY HAS CANCELEDPLANS FOR ITS BIGGESTCOMMUNITY GATHERING OF THEYEAR, SCHEDULED FOR EIGWEEKS FROM NOW.

WMAR 2 NEWSJEFF HAGER HAS THAT STORY.(HAGER S━UP) 23:59“For 35years, itthe yea━DarlingtonIndependence CelebrationParade & Fireworks, but nothis year” (TRACK) IT IS ASMALL PIECE OF AMERICANA, ANDNEWS THAT THE SMALL TOWN OFDARLINGTON WOULD NOT BETURNING OUT TO CELEBRATE THENATIONDISAPPOINT MANY OF ITS 400TOWNSPEOPLE.

(SOT━TamaraRogers/Dublin 16:44“I thinkitthat the locals look forwato it.

A lot of people havecook outs and stuff, invitetheir friends and family.

Ita big ordeal here” (TRACK)BUT LIONS CLUB EVENT ORGANIZELARRY BURTON SAYS IT WAS AMUCH BIGGER ORDEAL TRYING TONAVIGATE THE PANDEMIC, THEGOVERNORAND THE STATETO R━OPEN WHEN ITS ADDING TOITS COVI━19 CASE TOTAL EVERYDAY.

(SOT━Larry Burton/Lions Club Event Organizer8:56“There are so manyunknowns right now.

Realizehad 90 percent of thepreparation completed.

Westart six months prior to theevent to line up roadclosures, deputy support, showmobiles, the fireworkscontract, et cetera so we hadbeen working towards this andno one is more disappointedthat us” (TRACK) YOUTHMARCHING BANDS?

SCOUT TROUPSCHOOL GROUPS?

BURTON SAYSTHERE WAS NO GUARANTEE ANY OFTHEM WOULD BE ABLE TOPARTICIPATE.

PLUS, THEORGANIZING COMMITTEE DEPENDSON LOCAL BUSINESSES TO DONATEABOUT A THIRD OF THE COST OFTHE CELEBRATION, AND MANY OFTHEM ARE STRUGGLING UNDER THEEXECUTIVE ORDER.

THATTHE ORGANIZERS RULED OUTTRYING TO SALVAGE THEFIREWORKS, IF NOTHING ELSE.(SOT) 17:37“Theybeing more paranoid, especiallyfor the fireworks.

The parade?We do sort of line up on thestreet and the kids areeverywhere.

Ithustle bustle” (HAGER S━UP)24:36“Organizers are hopingeveryone will come back Jun26th, 2021 for an event thatsupposed to be even bigger andbetter than the one thatbeen canceled.

Reporting inDarlington, Jeff Hager, WMAR 2News”WERE MAKING IT OUR G