The Celebrate Petworth street festival has been an ongoing event in the neighborhood for the past 8 years. But not this year. In the time of Covid, there’s too many uncertainties.

What started as an effort to help local businesses and artists reach a wider local audience and create a stronger sense of neighborhood has become a highly anticipated event. Costs for the festival have also gone up, as DC permits and requirements have become more complicated and more expensive.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the volunteer festival planning committee met this week and decided to cancel this year’s event, originally scheduled for September 12, 2020. They are looking to bring the event back for Fall 2021.

“The festival committee agreed that it was best to cancel September's event for many reasons,” said Megan Flynn, one of the festival committee organizers. “This includes what's best for public health, the uncertainty of what September will look like, and because planning the festival at this time would divert important funds and resources from businesses when they need them the most.”

Vendors will receive refunds for any money they put down.