JUST IN: Oneida County allows @Hodag Country Fest to go forward in July despite COVID-19 pandemic; event draws tens of thousands of country music fans to Rhinelander each year https://www.wxpr.org/post/oneida-county-allows-hodag-country-fest-move-forward-despite-covid-19-risks#stream/0

The permit approval mandates a 25-point safety plan put forward by event organizers, which includes a limit of 16,000 people per weekend day on the grounds.

The county got about 100 public-comment emails on whether to hold the event this year. About two-thirds favored canceling the event.

Guidance from the Oneida County Health Department dictates outdoor gatherings be limited at 50 people. But the guidance is not enforceable.

“While we really want to hold the event and help out the Northwoods economy, we also need to ensure that we will be able to hold the festival next year and the year after that by not taking an unmanageable financial hit this year," said @Hodag.