Citing concerns about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic organizers of the 2020 Plaza Art Fair announced Monday they have canceled this year’s event.

The event, in its 89th year, was scheduled to take place Sept. 25 through 27. The cancellation was made out of concern for the safety of participants and those who attend the art fair.

“This was naturally a very difficult decision that we did not come to lightly, but public safety must always be our top priority,” Kasey Vena, general manager of the Country Club Plaza, said a written statement. “We are in the process of re-imagining this year’s event so that we may recognize the talented artists selected and celebrate art, food and music in new ways, including through our various digital platforms.”

The annual art fair generally spans nine city blocks on the Plaza. It features 240 artists, three live music stages and more than 20 restaurant booths. More than 250,000 patrons and guests typically attend the fair.

The art fair was launched in 1932 as a way to draw shoppers to the retail district. It featured 90 artists and was held on an empty lot on the southwest corner of Mill Creek Parkway and Central Avenue.

On Monday, the Kansas City metro area added 253 new COVID-19 cases and one more death.

This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 3:42 PM.