May 3, 2021 Rochester’s Park Avenue Festival wasn’t cancelled over fear of covid, it was cancelled over fear of protests. That’s the opinion of various people knowledgeable about the situation. It’s also likely true for other festivals and events traditionally held in the city of Rochester – to include the Corn Hill Festival, the Flower City half marathon and the International Jazz Festival. While state rules on public gatherings have been either impossible or not forthcoming, and cooperation from city officials has been non-existent, there have been two insurmountable obstacles: No way to overcome feared Black Lives Matter protests, and the understaffed Rochester Police Department.