Photo: Nicolas Raymond, C.C. 2.0
A hot air balloon event that debuted at Drake Field in Fayetteville last year has cancelled their planned 2020 event due to COVID-19.
Organizers from Open Avenues, the non-profit organization behind the event announced the decision to cancel the event earlier this week.
It was originally scheduled for Aug. 22.
“We are heartbroken to have to cancel our only annual fundraising event as we need the revenue now more than ever,” said Kelly Sampson, Development Director for Open Avenues. “But we knew this was the right, socially responsible thing to do.”
The inaugural event held last year sold out, with organizers estimating around 10,000 attendees checked out the balloon rides, live music, and other festivities in the event’s first year.
According to a Facebook post announcing the cancellation, those who bought tickets will be hearing from event planners about their options this week.
If all goes well, the event will return to Fayetteville on Aug. 28, 2021.
