Given the uncertainty over when large gatherings will be able to resume, the organizers of both the Concerts in the Park and the annual Fish Fry events, the Costa Mesa Foundation and Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club respectively, have decided to cancel their community events this year.

The Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club board members decided to cancel their signature Fish Fry event, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 2 through Oct. 4.

“After much discussion, the Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club decided to cancel this year’s Fish Fry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and in an abundance of caution and to protect members of the public,” said Lions Club President Phil Marsh. “This would have been our 73rd annual event and this was a very difficult decision. But we look forward to being back in 2021 when the Fish Fry will return to Lions Park.”

The popular Concerts in the Park series typically takes place each Tuesday evening in July at Fairview Park. The free event is sponsored by the Costa Mesa Foundation and is supported by City staff.  The series routinely draws between 2,500 to 3,000 people to each concert.

“The City of Costa Mesa and the Costa Mesa Foundation are heartbroken to announce that the Concerts in the Park has to be cancelled this year,” said Costa Mesa Foundation President Nichole Scott. “COVID 19 has shown to be extremely contagious and having concerts with very large crowds would endanger the public and this is something both the Costa Mesa Foundation and the City are trying to prevent. Be safe and we look forward to seeing you again at our 2021 concert series.”

Scott urged members of the community to visit the costamesafoundation.org website and support concert sponsors, who are also hurting financially during this crisis.