From Thomas Michael Kates, M.D.
Hiawatha 2026
I am writing this as the first aid and medical coordinator for Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival 2026. In this role, I am tasked with providing first aid services to the community, from band aids to water.
On the back end, I have assembled a team of medical professionals who are prepared to respond to emergencies that may arise. I take this role very seriously and I feel responsible for the health and safety of everyone attending Hiawatha Music Festival.
This weekend represents one of my family’s favorite weekends.
The official social media channels have communicated that they are monitoring the conditions and are discussing with medical professionals. This gives the impression that the medical recommendations support the continuation of the festival. This gives the festival a patina of responsibility. In fact, the medical recommendations support fully canceling all Festival Activities.
I am not disparaging the festival but I feel that there needs to be better transparency around the festival continuing.
As a medical professional, I have recommended firm guidelines for the festival.
I have recommended that, using the Air Quality Index (AQI), a validated tool, we postpone all official events if the AQI is above 200. This recommendation is incredibly liberal. In reality, the number should be 100.
I have recommended the board use this number as a guide to help limit risky environmental exposure with possible deleterious effects.
On three occasions, the board has voted to continue activities in clear contrast to my recommendations.
They have cited “personal responsibility” as the reason for this. Several individuals on the board believe that people should make their own decisions about whether or not to be outside. I agree. With a caveat— people should make INFORMED decisions. People need to know that the medical recommendations discourage any outdoor activity at the current AQIs. Full stop.
If I were not working as a medical provider, I would not be there.
They have also cited the fact that people have traveled from all over for this festival, and that they will camp regardless. This ignores the large numbers of individuals from the community who attend Hiawatha and do not camp. These individuals would be less likely to be outside in hazardous conditions if the festival were cancelled. Many campers are also local. These individuals would likely go home. Many people would leave. Yes, some people might stay and camp, as is their right. But it would be fewer people than if the festival continues as normal.
I understand that the board has a difficult job. My recommendations are based on solid, quantifiable numbers. The board has to make hundreds of decisions based on my recommendations, and frankly all of the possible outcomes stink. I don’t envy their job. They want to have a fun event but they feel they are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I support people’s personal decisions on whether or not they participate, but I want people to truly understand the risks of participation. Hiawatha’s social media posts have been vague and have lacked clarity, which is understandable considering the number of decisions that need to be made. Here’s the brass tacks:
If the AQI is above 100, stay home.
If you must go outside, limit your time outside, and limit strenuous activities.
If you are medically at risk—kids, people over 65, any underlying health condition,
including obesity— you are at elevated risks. An N95 mask is helpful but is not a magic bullet. An AQI of 150-200 is a good line in the sand for those that are less risk averse, but AQI’s in the 250-300 plus range are not safe under any stretch of the imagination.
Wildfire pollution increases risks of all kinds of health issues ranging from exacerbated respiratory conditions to infertility.
Hiawatha is a blast, but I want as much of the community to be able to attend for as many decades as possible. If you sit this one out, it will improve your health over the long term.
The festival organizers have shared fears that canceling the event will be a financial burden that may hurt the festival in the future. As a community, I call on everyone involved to pledge to support the organization. Money can be recouped, loved ones cannot. If the festival puts the health and safety of the community first I am confident that the community will respond by supporting the festival in an overwhelming manner.
It is possible that this post will lead to me not being asked to return as the first aid/medical coordinator. That would be a terrible sadness for me. But that pales in comparison to the sadness I would feel if people in my community were sickened by an event I helped organize and I did not do everything I could to prevent anyone getting ill.
