We are in what feels like the five-hundredth month of the pandemic. For those who enjoy the festival and music scene, it has probably felt even longer. Most events in 2020 were canceled - a trend that has continued into much of 2021. 

The good news is the data shows the number of new cases and deaths across the United States is currently tracking downward. 56.8% of the population is fully vaccinated, and COVID-19 testing is easily accessible with near-instant results.

So does this mean your favorite upcoming event or festival is full-steam ahead? Maybe. Maybe not.

A lot of it might depend on which state - or city - you're in. For example, Alabama is fully reopened with no restrictions, and Pennsylvania is also, except for Philadelphia, which requires individuals to wear a mask inside businesses. And while California requires all unvaccinated individuals to wear a mask in indoor public spaces and businesses, if you're in Colorado, you must wear a mask when using public transportation, regardless of vaccination status. 

If it feels confusing, it's because it is.

It's hard to predict what the future holds. Some events are still getting canceled or postponed. Some have decided that they will require proof of vaccination or a negative test to gain admittance to carry on safely. And some will continue without any restrictions at all. Festival-goers should remain cautiously optimistic their favorite events will make it onto their calendars.

And that's something to cheer about.

Helpful resources:

List of state-specific restrictions

COVID-19 Concert Cancellation Tracker

States ranked by percentage of the population fully vaccinated

Domestic travel restrictions