Any number of Health & Wellness issues may occur affecting your attendance at the Emerald City Hoedown, or may affect the hoedown itself, ranging from simple cold and flu to COVID and beyond.

General Wellness

We want you to be in top form during the hoedown weekend.  If in the days before the hoedown, you come down with seasonal illnesses like cold and flu, you may want to consider whether attending the Emerald City Hoedown is in the best interests of everyone involved.  If you are unable to attend, contact us at info@emeraldcityhoedown.com to let us know and we will see what accommodations we can make for you.

During the weekend itself, it can be tempting to push yourself hard, to get in every last dance possible.  Be sure to pace yourself, get adequate hydration and nutrition — it’s not like we don’t provide food at this event! — and ensure that you get some good sleep during the weekend.  We don’t want you missing out on things because you push too hard, or to have you go home sick!

COVID, Flu, etc.

We no longer require proof of COVID vaccination to attend the Emerald City Hoedown.  We still strongly encourage all attendees to get vaccinated and boosted to the fullest level available to them, and if federal, state, or local guidelines change to require vaccinations or a mask mandate for the hoedown, we will expect hoedown attendees to comply.  Please check back for any requirements for the 2027 Emerald City Hoedown event.

Seasonal flu and cold, RSV, and even M-Pox are still in the mix of health concerns, and may be of greater concern for our older attendees.  We strongly encourage all attendees to receive appropriate vaccinations for these as well as for COVID.

Code of Conduct

All dancers at the Emerald City Hoedown are expected to abide by Rain Country’s Code of Conduct.  That includes not shaming or harassing someone else for their masking preferences, which also means not trying to convince them to change their behaviors regarding masks.  We are all family here, so be kind and gentle with one another.

Our organization is working on a broader document to encompass issues such as sexual assault.

Concerns about Code of Conduct violations should be brought to the attention of members of the Emerald City Hoedown committee.  Staff at hoedown regsitration can put you in contact with pertinent people.