COVID-19 Updates for the Autumn Festival® – 50th Edition

The FAQs on the Government’s institutional website have been updated and, from an initial reading, it appears that some interpretative issues that UNPLI APS had promptly raised regarding controls and access methods to events, particularly festivals and fairs, when held in open spaces without uniquely accessible entrances such as historic centers and outdoor areas, have been addressed and defined.

The two updates that most closely concern the Pro Loco are:

In the case of outdoor events in spaces without specific and unique access points, such as public squares and streets, the organizers (public or private) are limited to informing the public, with appropriate signage, of the existence of the obligation to have COVID-19 green certification to access the fair or festival in question. In case of random checks, only the person without certification will be sanctioned and not the organizers who have complied with the information obligations. Therefore, the obligation to have a green pass to access local festivals and fairs is not excluded, but is left to the responsibility of visitors.

It has also been clarified that the obligation to possess COVID-19 green certification does not apply, in the case of events, such as theatrical performances or concerts – but we believe it also extends to traveling entertainment activities – that take place in outdoor locations without specific and unique access points, such as squares, streets or public parks, which can also be accessed by people for purposes other than attending the event, which is therefore not intended for a predefined audience and contained in spaces dedicated exclusively to the event itself, while always respecting the State-Regions Conference Guidelines.