The 2020 Gwynn’s Island Festival has been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, festival chair Jan Bassett has announced.

She noted that the festival, traditionally held the last Saturday in June, comes after the current June 10 stay-at-home order of Gov. Ralph Northam expires.

“However, being unsure of any additional restrictions and the need to protect our community, our vendors and our patrons, we are canceling,” Bassett said.

The cancellation joins a long list of local festivals, large and small, that have been called off due to the coronavirus. They include the Gloucester Daffodil Festival, Gloucester-Mathews Garden Tour, Gloucester-Mathews Care Clinic’s Casino Night, Abingdon Ruritan Club’s Food Truck Frenzy and its huge Seafood Festival, May Faire, Mathews Fourth of July Fireworks, and a number of other events.

The Mathews High School basketball team was named a co-champion of state basketball after the final, title game against Auburn High School was called off March 12 in the early days of the pandemic’s spread across the United States.
Bassett said, “The Gwynn’s Island Civic League and Festival Committee are saddened and disappointed that the festival must be canceled but we all must work together to get through this unprecedented situation.” She added, “Thank you for your understanding and look forward to the 2021 Gwynn’s Island Festival.”

The festival has its roots in the annual homecoming on Gwynn’s Island that dates at least to 1949, one year after formation of the Gwynn’s Island Civic League.