Memorial Day Weekend traditionally marks the start of the summer season, and for the dance music community, festival and pool party season. Maybe not this year due to Covid-19—unless you’re in Scottsdale, Arizona. On Friday night, Scottsdale’s Entertainment District appeared open for business like pre-social distancing days, and at least one club is hosting MDW parties.
Maya Day and Nightclub, which has booked Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki and Tiësto in the past, kicked off MDW by bringing back night swim on Friday night. Guests can “dip and dine under the stars,” Maya wrote in an Instagram post. The club’s Instagram story also advertised its Soaked Saturdays party and night swim on Saturday night.
And on Memorial Day, Maya is hosting “food and fun by the pool,” another post states. “What more could we ask for this Memorial Day Weekend!”
Maya announced last week that it would be reopening and “taking the necessary safety precautions set forth by the state of Arizona and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).” The club did not outline any social distancing measures or special procedures for entering on social media or its website.
Across America, restaurants and bars in some states have begun reopening after the pandemic lockdowns. But massive events like music festivals and concerts in most cases are in the last phase of state and local reopening plans. Maya is the exception, not the rule, for now. However, a video shared by CELEB magazine showed an indoor club in Scottsdale with a dance floor packed with people. Some guests did not wear face masks. The post elicited comments both cheering the party on and raising concerns about safety.
The State Of Arizona
Arizona’s stay-at-home order ended on May 15 and restaurants and bars began opening earlier this month. Bars were allowed to reopen but have to follow public health rules for dine-in services to combat the coronavirus spread, a spokesman for Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s office told Arizona’s Family.
Meanwhile, America’s first social distanced concert took place on Monday at TempleLive in Fort Smith, Arkansas—with heavy restrictions. The show featuring country musician Travis McCready enforced six-foot distancing through group seating and taping sections off. The venue’s capacity was lowered from 1,000 to 200 people and therefore looked sparsely attended. Concertgoers had to go through temperature checks and had to wear face masks.
All eyes are on Arizona as American cities try to navigate restarting business while keeping infection rates down. Trap DJ Carnage’s first drive-in concert ROAD RAVE scheduled for May 30 near Phoenix, will be another test.