Gaithersburg Board of Appeals approves Lakeforest Mall May carnival despite coronavirus pandemic

The Gaithersburg Board of Appeals, meeting by internet teleconference, approved a May carnival for Lakeforest Mall Tuesday. Both the board and the carnival's operator acknowledged the looming reality of the coronavirus pandemic, and the social distancing policies the county and state have implemented as a result of it. Operator Jolly Shows is willing to postpone the carnival to June if necessary. But the decision by the board still raised eyebrows, as there is no indication as of now that the pandemic will be over even by June.