The Art in the Park Committee has decided to cancel the 2021 festival due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
Earlier this year, the committee put out a call for vendors and was planning the outdoor festival with public health measures in place.
"Everyone in Windsor-Essex looks forward to Art in the Park. Cancelling Art in the Park two years in a row will have a profound effect on The Rotary Club of Windsor's finances and the good that we do in this community and around the world,” said President Gerry Pocock. “However, our membership is strong, resilient and resourceful and we will weather this horrific storm and look forward to the future, when once again Willistead Park will be teeming with people on the first weekend in June."
The festival is a charity-run event that has been around for 42 years. It has raised $1.3 million for the restoration of Willistead Manor and around $2.1 million more to support efforts supported by the Rotary Club of Windsor.
“We are so thankful to be part of the strong community of Windsor-Essex and for the efforts of the City of Windsor to try and help make this event a success, despite COVID-19,” said the Executive Director, Jodi Ouellette. “We look forward to meeting again with the sun shining on our Annual Art in the Park event.”