The Appalachian String Band Music Festival, held each year in southern West Virginia, has been canceled this year because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History made the announcement today.
“We must all do our part to lessen the effect of the current worldwide health crisis, and at this time this decision is one we feel is in everyone’s best interest,” according to the department’s press release.
The five-day mountaintop gathering of musicians was slated for late July into early August at Camp Washington-Carver in Clifftop, Fayette County. On an average year, at least 3,000 people attend the event, which draws people from across the U.S. and the world.
The event features string instrument musicians who come out to celebrate the traditional old-time music that has been played for almost 300 years in the Appalachian Mountains. The music is influenced by songs from the British Isles, Europe and North Africa.
The event has been rescheduled for summer 2021.