Yeah, yeah! We know . . . Memorial Day is on May 31. We simply couldn’t wait to share the news!
On Tuesday, May 4, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced that nearly all COVID-19 mitigation orders — including capacity restrictions on indoor gatherings — will be lifted on Memorial Day.
According to the coronavirus page of the Pennsylvania Department of Health: “Effective May 31, we are lifting COVID mitigation orders, except masking. The masking order will be lifted when 70% of Pennsylvania adults are fully vaccinated.”
Pennsylvania’s acting Health Secretary, Alison Beam, encouraged everyone to get vaccinated. “Follow through with both doses if you receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, and continue to take steps like masking, frequent handwashing and sanitizing, and social distancing,” Beam said.
But that’s not all. There’s more good news to share!
On the same day as Governor Wolf’s announcement, the convention’s host hotel — the DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh — Cranberry — informed PulpFest that the meeting rooms where the convention is scheduled to be held will be available to the convention for the entire weekend.
So as things now stand, PulpFest 2021 will take place from Thursday, August 19, through Sunday, August 22.
On Thursday, August 19, the PulpFest dealers’ room will be open from noon until 5 PM for dealers to set up their displays. Member registration & early-bird shopping for PulpFest members staying at the DoubleTree will begin at 1 PM and run through 5 PM.
The convention’s evening programming will begin on Thursday, August 19, at 7 PM.
The dealers’ room will open from 9 AM until 2 PM on Sunday, August 22 for dealer teardown and budget shopping.
The Summer 2021 edition of PulpFest will celebrate the anniversaries of two trend-setting Street & Smith rough-paper magazines — LOVE STORY and THE SHADOW MAGAZINE. Both played significant roles in the evolution of American popular culture and genre fiction.
PulpFest 2021 will have panels and presentations on these topics and more. We hope you’ll join us for “Love in the Shadows,” from August 19 – 22, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh – Cranberry in Mars, Pennsylvania.
Currently, masks covering both the nose and the mouth will be a requirement to participate in all of the activities planned for PulpFest 2021.
Mirroring the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s suggestions, PulpFest will also recommend frequent handwashing and sanitizing, as well as social distancing.
If you are exhibiting any symptoms associated with COVID-19, please stay at home. You should not attend PulpFest. Isolate and avoid contact with others, rest, and drink fluids. If your symptoms worsen, call your health care provider.
Although we cannot predict what will happen in the months ahead, it seems that PulpFest 2021 will go ahead as planned, starting on Thursday, August 19, and running through Sunday, August 22.
Given the fluidity of the global health emergency, the organizing committee will continue to assess developments. We will advise you about any changes to our plans through our website and social media pages.
Please stay tuned to pulpfest.com. We also recommend that you join our email list through the handy sign-up box found on our website.
In the meantime, stay safe and be aware of the needs of others. We hope to see all of you August 19 – 22 for PulpFest 2021.
During July and August 1942, just months after the United States entered World War II, magazines nationwide featured the American flag on their covers. Adopting the slogan “United We Stand,” some five hundred publications waved the stars and stripes to promote national unity, rally support for the war, and celebrate Independence Day.
For magazine publishers, displaying the flag was a way to prove their loyalty and value to the war effort. For the U. S. government, the campaign was an opportunity to sell bonds and boost morale. The magazines brought home a message of patriotism and ideals worth fighting for.
Freelance artist Charles DeFeo contributed the cover art for Street & Smith’s “United We Stand” campaign. DeFeo’s artwork appeared across the publisher’s line of pulp magazines. Pictured here is the cover for the August 1, 1942 number of THE SHADOW.
Although we can’t force anyone, it’s our hope that everyone who plans to attend PulpFest 2021 will be vaccinated against COVID-19.
We have many older members who attend PulpFest. Please keep them in mind. Remember, we’re all in this together. United We Stand!
At this time, you’ll see the original dates for PulpFest 2021 scattered throughout our website and social media sites. We’ll be updating our pages in the days ahead to reflect the change in our plans:
PulpFest 2021 will take place August 19 – 22.
Click the registration button right below the PulpFest banner on our website to learn how to join this summer’s leading pop culture convention, PulpFest 2021.
