(AUBURN) – Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival has been canceled for this year.

In a media release, Festival Executive Director Leslie Peel announced that after consulting with local health officials, local government and their valued partners, the Festival organization's board of directors made the decision to cancel the festival. It's the first time in 64 years the event will not be held over the Labor Day weekend.

Peel says they have continued to monitor the COVID-19 presence in the area along with across the country. She says this discussion has been going on for several months on how to proceed and made the festival as safe as possible. In addition she says they took into consideration the burden there has been on local businesses and the community over the last few months and the impact the festival would have on these businesses.

Peel says this decision was not one made lightly, but out of an abundance of caution. It was made in keeping the health and safety of their community, volunteers, vendors and attendees as their top priority.

The theme of the 2020 festival was “Women Behind The Wheel”.

Peel says the will not shift their focus to planning the 2021 festival, which they hope to make bigger and better than ever.