Lompoc Flower Festival canceled

LOMPOC, Calif. - The Lompoc Flower Festival has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Organizers announced the cancellation on Wednesday.

The festival, which draws thousands of visitors every year, was scheduled to take place June 24-28.

The decision to cancel was made due to physical distancing guidelines and the state's ban on large gatherings issued due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"We had no choice but to take this step for the safety of the community as well as the participating Vendors, Carnival and Volunteers that make this event such a great success," the Lompoc Valley Festival Association said in a statement on Facebook. "Our plans are to put our energy into the 2021 Springfest and Flower Festival and make them better than ever."

Organizers say they will continue to work to put together festivals in the future and thanked the community for their continued support.