Zimfest News Blog

In response to questions from the community, here is an updated version of the March 8, 2022 blog post, with additions and clarifications underlined.

As of early March, Covid infections with the Omicron variant have declined to levels not seen since last November. This heartening turn of events helped the Zimfest Association decide to go forward with an in-person festival this year (June 24-26, Mt. Vernon, WA). In response to the decline in cases, the CDC, state, and local public health agencies have started phasing out masking requirements; in Washington state, mask mandates end on March 12. Healthcare providers, businesses, event organizers, etc., can still choose to require masks in the interests of health and safety.

Vaccination is the best tool for preventing the spread of Covid and protecting each other while we gather in person. As announced previously, all Zimfest participants 5 years of age and older are required to be fully vaccinated. “Participants” include Zimfest teachers, performers, workshop participants, volunteers, food/drink and merchandise vendors, and workers contracted by Zimfest. The Skagit County Fairgrounds will be open to the public, without any vaccination requirements per local health regulations. The public, and individuals accompanying participants (e.g., non-participant family members), will have no access to indoor spaces except for a bathroom/shower building. The evening concerts are likewise open to the public and the venue has its own vaccination policy (see below).

Presently, full vaccination consists of either (1) both doses of a double-dose vaccine (e.g. Moderna or Pfizer) or (2) one dose of a single-dose vaccine (e.g. Johnson & Johnson). Other vaccines approved by the World Health Organization may also be accepted. An individual is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their final dose of vaccine. Boosters are not required to attend Zimfest.

Proof of full vaccination, including an image of an official vaccination record, will be submitted via an online form. You’ll be directed to this form when you receive notification of acceptance to Zimfest (e.g., teacher applicants) or when you register. Proof of vaccination will be due when online registration closes. Participants will then be issued a special wristband that provides access to indoor spaces at the Skagit County Fairgrounds. Lincoln Theatre, the venue for evening concerts, will carry out their own verification of full vaccination at the door (check requirements here), independent of Zimfest’s vaccine verification. Neither Zimfest nor the Lincoln Theatre will accept Covid test results in lieu of full vaccination.

Of course, all of the above is subject to the Covid situation in June. We continue to closely monitor Covid case rates and official health regulations regarding vaccination (e.g., boosters, minimum vaccine-eligible age), masks and other safety precautions. We’ll announce the mask policy for Zimfest indoor spaces closer to the festival.

We will launch a Covid Safety page on the Zimfest website soon, containing all the details.

Please address any questions to covid_safety (at) zimfest(dot)org.

Stay well, and we look forward to seeing you in June!

Janis C. Weeks
Zimfest Association Board member
Chair, Zimfest Covid Safety Committee

Dear Zimfest Community,

We’re thrilled that 2022 Zimfest will be held in person on June 24-26 in Mt. Vernon, WA (see Claire’s post below). I visited the Skagit County Fairgrounds and Lincoln Theatre during a scouting trip last fall; it will be a fun new venue with ample tent and RV camping onsite and other attractions. Please, please volunteer to help with the many things that need doing both pre-festival and onsite. Drop a line to volunteers{at}zimfest{dot}org to be matched with the volunteer job of your dreams!

One of the top concerns—if not the VERY TOP concern—in thinking about a virtual vs. in-person Zimfest for 2022 was the Covid situation, in both Washington state and more broadly. The Zimfest Covid Safety Committee (ZCSC) was established by the Zimfest Association Board last year and is staffed by Deb Goldman (Seattle), Aimée Nassoiy (Lopez Island, WA) and myself (Eugene, OR), plus ex officio members Claire Jones (Festival Coordinator, Seattle) and Alex Weeks (ZA Board President, Seattle). The committee’s efforts are now focusing on Covid risk reduction at the 2022 festival.

Infections with the Omicron Covid variant have now declined to low levels, a turn of events critically important in deciding to green-light this year’s Zimfest. Of course, the Covid situation may change again before June and the ZCSC will continue to carefully monitor the epidemiological and public health situation. Responding to the decline in cases, the CDC, state, and local public health agencies have started phasing out masking requirements; in Washington state, mask mandates end on March 12. Healthcare providers, businesses, event organizers, etc., can still choose to require masks in the interests of health and safety.

Vaccination remains the best tool to prevent the spread of Covid and to protect each other while gathering in person. As announced previously, full vaccination of all individuals 5 years of age or older will be required to attend 2022 Zimfest. Presently, full vaccination consists of either (1) both doses of a double-dose vaccine (e.g. Moderna or Pfizer) or (2) one dose of a single-dose vaccine (e.g. Johnson & Johnson). Other vaccines approved by the World Health Organization may also be accepted. An individual is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their final dose of vaccine. Boosters are not currently required to attend Zimfest. Feedback from the Zimfest Community on this vaccination policy has been overwhelmingly positive, with many people saying they would not consider attending without this policy in place.

The ZCSC has been working with the Zimfest Tech Committee to develop an online form for submitting proof of vaccination, which will include uploading an image of each individual’s vaccine record. You’ll be directed to this form when you receive notification of acceptance as a teacher or performer, or when you register. Everyone must submit proof of vaccination before online registration closes. After approval of submitted materials by the ZCSC, attendees will be issued a special wristband that provides access to indoor spaces at the Skagit County Fairgrounds. Lincoln Theatre, the venue for evening concerts, will carry out their own verification of full vaccination at the door (check requirements here), independent of Zimfest’s vaccine verification. Neither Zimfest nor the Lincoln Theatre will accept Covid test results in lieu of full vaccination. We’ll announce the mask policy for Zimfest indoor spaces closer to the festival.

Of course, all of the above is subject to the Covid situation and Washington state regulations in June. Nevertheless, please help manifest a well-attended, safe and joyous Zimfest by marking the dates on your calendar and signing up for workshops when registration opens on May 1. Did you know that Zimfest Association members now get early access to workshop registration? See details on the Membership page.

Please address any Covid safety questions to covid_safety(at)zimfest(dot)org.

Stay well, and we’ll see you in June!

Janis C. Weeks
Zimfest Association Board member
Chair, Zimfest Covid Safety Committee

Posted on behalf of OC member Mark Swift

I am fairly new to Zimfest, having attended my first festival in 2019.  I am really excited about returning to an in-person event this coming June!  I understand that there is some hesitation about committing to performing and teaching due to uncertainty about health safety in the time of Covid-19.  No one can predict the future, but things are looking up.  I fully understand that everyone’s comfort level is different, and different people have different levels of risk. I just wanted to share my perspective as someone who lives in western Pennsylvania. 

From where I sit, the Pacific Northwest has done a great job dealing with Covid-19.  Our local vaccination rate is only 60%, a full 10% lower than Washington State.  I would estimate only 1 in 10 people bother to wear a mask indoors in public places.  Bars and restaurants are full.  Cases in my county are currently sky high.  And yet, at the college where I work, we have successfully kept the total number of cases down to 1 or 2 per week since students returned to campus in Fall 2020. In 2020-2021 everyone on campus was tested at least once every two weeks and that helped keep the case load low, with a small bump in the post-holiday surge in January/February 2021.  Through the Omicron surge, cases have increased somewhat, but positive tests results remain in the low single digits every week. How? Simple, we made the campus a near Covid-free bubble.  We required students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated, and masks are required indoors.  Students are living together in the dorms, working in the community, coming and going from their homes, but still, on campus, masks and vaccines have allowed us to keep our rates low.  We are having normal classes without social distancing.  And though people are aware of their personal space and are washing their hands often, we are mostly “back to normal.” 

I present this story as evidence that with a little mitigation like vaccine requirement and masks, it is possible to create a safe “bubble” in which we can all gather and enjoy Zimbabwean music together.   For those who are at greater risk, by all means, stay home and stay safe!  I am sympathetic to the anxiety you must feel and hope the world becomes a safer place for you as soon as possible.  But if you are in reasonable health, vaccinated, and willing to mask, I really hope to meet you at Zimfest 2022! 

Mark Swift
Zimfest 2022 Organizing Committee