Eloise Ogden/MDN This entry was in a past lighted parade held at dusk at the Dickens Village Festival in Garrison. The festival, held in late November and early December, was canceled this year due to the pandemic.

GARRISON – This year’s Dickens Village Festival in Garrison has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual festival, turning the Garrison community into a Victorian town from the era of Charles Dickens, was scheduled to begin Nov. 27-28 and continue Dec. 4-5 and Dec. 11-12.

McKaila Behles, director of the Garrison Convention and Visitors Bureau, said, “It was a tough decision but we knew it was a possibility.”

The Dickens Village Festival Committee made the decision on Saturday to cancel the annual event.

Behles said emails and letters went out to ticket holders, sponsors and others. Those with advance tickets for the event are being refunded.

In the letter emailed to ticket holders, sponsors and others, the Dickens Village Festival Committee said they “held out hope for this year’s festival to spread Christmas Cheer to our businesses, organizations, volunteeers, and our guests.”

It went on to say: “We know, now more than ever, many long for the holiday joyfulness that the festival brought. The rising pandemic has continued to bring many challenges & uncertainty and unfortunately has left us, with the help of our sponsors, to make the toughest decision.”

The committee thanked sponsors, organizations and guests “for the gracious support.”

Behles said they are looking forward to having a brighter 2021 to resume the festival and welcome everyone back.

Next year’s festival is scheduled for Nov. 26-27, Dec. 3-4 and Dec. 10-11.