GILROY, Calif. - Gilroy Garlic Festival announced on Friday that this year's annual festival is called off and will be postponed until July, 2021 due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
"While we are anguished over our decision, we all look forward to making the 2021 festival the best ever," organizers said in a statement.
The Garlic Festival, held every year over a weekend in July, supports more than 150 local charites. The organization said the health and well being of the community is more important than risking holding the event.
Last year a mass shooting marred the festival where three people were killed and several others were wounded by a lone gunman.
The 2021 festival will be held July 23-25.