For the first time in 53 years, the town of Clifton will not hold Clifton Day, one of Northern Virginia’s beloved fall events.

The annual festival, which typically attracts several thousand visitors from all over the D.C. area, was set to take place on Sunday, Oct. 10. Changing COVID-19 regulations, increasing cases and current CDC health guidelines left organizers with no choice but to change that plan.

“After much consideration, we have determined that the most responsible decision we can make is to cancel the 53rd annual Clifton Day,” said event chair Kathy Hertz. “It is with heavy hearts that we make this announcement.”

In the weeks leading up to Oct. 10, the Clifton Day Facebook page will feature individual vendors who were slated to participate in the outdoor marketplace at this year’s festival. Each post will include a link to the vendor’s website to encourage would-be festival goers to visit and support the business.

The Clifton Day Festival, hosted by the Clifton Betterment Association (CBA), arose from a 1960s revitalization effort for the historic town of Clifton, which had fallen into a state of disrepair since its incorporation in 1902. Residents decided to hold a festival in 1967 as a way to attract the public to the charming place they called home. The annual festival normally takes place on the Sunday before Columbus Day.

Coincidentally, the date for the 2021 festival also happens to fall on Oct. 10. “We will miss seeing everyone this year, but have our sights set on next year,” said CBA president Michelle Stein. “We can’t wait to get together again in person.”

For more information about Clifton Day, visit http://www.cliftonday.com/ or the festival’s Facebook page.