The city of Port Colborne has announced the cancellation of the 42nd annual Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival due to COVID-19.

The decision was made by city council Monday evening based on the recommendation of the Canal Days Advisory Committee.

The festival was scheduled to run from July 31 to August 3.

“This was a difficult decision to make and an even harder announcement to share as we are all disappointed, but it is the right thing to do,” said Mayor Bill Steele. “As a community celebration, the cancellation of our annual signature event was made with our community’s and the public’s health and safety front of mind. Following the guidelines set out by governing bodies about mass gatherings, Council felt strongly that the 2020 Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival could not proceed this year. It is important that we do our part to help contain the spread of COVID-19, and safeguard the health and safety of our community, volunteers, artists, festival partners, visitors and staff.”

The festival has a significant economic impact on the community, with more than 300,000 attendees each year.

The city says it will work to support local businesses and aid in simulating economic recovery by focusing efforts on preparing to host smaller-scale community-oriented events in the fall of 2020, once the public health crisis stabilized. They will also be looking ahead at planning for the 2021 festival.

“We felt this was the best way to proceed during an unprecedented time,” said Scott Luey, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Port Colborne. “We are very disappointed, but we know it’s the right decision, for both the City’s day-to-day operations and our community, based on the information we have today. When it’s appropriate, we will once again gather together to celebrate.”