The Fort Ligonier Days Board canceled its traditional fall festival, but plans are underway to hold a virtual version.

The annual festival, which was scheduled for Oct. 9-11, typically brings thousands of visitors to Ligonier to view a parade, enjoy food and music, browse among vendors and attend battle re-enactments at the town’s reconstructed 18th-century fort.

Board President Mark Sorice announced Wednesday on the festival’s Facebook page that this year’s event is canceled, “recognizing that the risk of the health of our community overrides any other factor.”

Referring to the covid-19 pandemic that interrupted many other summer activities, Sorice said, “These times will not last, this crisis will not prevail. We expect to return in 2021 with the utmost vigor.”

Meanwhile, he said, a virtual version of the festival is planned this year, employing the event’s website and social media channels.

“Our merchants, vendors, sponsors and supporters will each have the opportunity to be featured in the virtual festival,” he said.

The decision to cancel the festival wasn’t made lightly, Sorice said.

“Our community needs Fort Ligonier Days, not only to support local businesses, but to help the good works of many charities that benefit from the money that we raise,” he said.

Social distancing requirements and lack of sponsorship dollars amid the pandemic already had organizers considering a scaled-back event, without a parade or fireworks, according to festival chairman Jack McDowell. He said many crafters who had planned to participate were dropping out since there were very few other events left for them to include in their schedules this year.

He said organizers expected they wouldn’t be able to hold the festival unless Westmoreland County would move forward from Gov. Tom Wolf’s “green” phase of emerging from covid-19 restrictions.

With a recent spike of new covid-19 cases, McDowell said, “It looks like it’s going the other way.”

He said the decision to cancel Fort Ligonier Days was made with the festival 100 days away, “the minimum we need to make it happen.”

The virtual festival “looks like it could be exciting,” possibly including virtual visits with Ligonier merchants, McDowell said.

Mary Lou Martin Fleming said she will miss the festival and the brisk business it has brought to her Martin’s Specialty Shop in downtown Ligonier.

“We love Fort Ligonier Days,” she said. “We’re extremely busy and I love seeing all the people.”

But, she said, the cancellation is “a prudent response” to the pandemic.

“I would rather be safe,” she said. “I’m just relieved somebody made a decision so we can move on and plan our business accordingly.”

Last year marked the 60th anniversary of the festival, which commemorates an Oct. 12, 1758, battle when British and colonial troops prevented French soldiers and their Native American allies from capturing the fort.

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