The annual Lights of the Ozark parade in Fayetteville has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The event was originally scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20. Experience Fayetteville will instead hold a virtual ceremony to celebrate the hanging of holiday lights in the downtown square. 

 

Activities like carriage rides, pony rides, and pictures with Santa have also been cancelled. Letters to Santa can still be dropped off at the mailbox in front of the Experience Fayetteville Visitors Center.

 

“This was not an easy decision to make,” Experience Fayetteville CEO Molly Rawn said in a statement. “Our primary concern is always public health and safety, and we have to do what’s best for our community.”

 

Experience Fayetteville plans to offer socially distant programming during the holiday season, such as reducing the number of food and beverage vendors in the downtown square. 

 

“I’m encouraged by the work our team is doing to make this a cheerful and safe event moving forward,” Rawn said. 

 

The annual display consists of more than 400,000 lights decorating the square, and will be available to view through Dec. 31.

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Image courtesy of Experience Fayetteville