More than 300 vintage cars are often on display for the Fortin’s Village Classic Car Show, but it won’t be happening this year. (Jenna Hauck/Progress file)

More than 300 vintage cars are often on display for the Fortin’s Village Classic Car Show, but it won’t be happening this year. (Jenna Hauck/Progress file)

Chilliwack’s Party in the Park and Fortins Village Classic are COVID-19 casualties

The popular summer events that take place in downtown Chilliwack have been cancelled.

Two popular events in downtown Chilliwack will be cancelled due to COVID-19.

The Chilliwack Downtown Business Association has pulled the plug on the Fortins Village Classic car show, which typically takes place in June.

The BIA has also cancelled Party in the Park, a multi-week event which typically happens over four Friday nights in July.

The BIA announcement on Facebook noted that events of these size take lots of time to plan and organize, and require a major commitment from sponsors, partners and volunteers.

READ MORE: Party in the Park packed with music, food and more

READ MORE: Chilliwack car show cancelled due to weather concerns

“Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible for organizers to commit, or to ask partners to commit, to any fixed date or even tentative plans at this point,” a BIA post read. “As a result, the BIA has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s events, with no plans to reschedule for 2020.”

There is also uncertainty about whether a provincial ban on large gatherings would be lifted in time for the summer.

“We feel that planning a large gathering at this point is not the right thing to do, and it is not reasonable to plan alternate dates when the calendar has never been so uncertain.”

It’s the second year in a row that the Fortins Village Classic won’t happen. Last year’s event was cancelled because there was heavy rain the weather forecast.

For more info on both events, check the Chilliwack Business Improvement Association Facebook page.


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