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The annual Firefly Festival at High Bridge Trail State Park has been canceled for 2020 to mitigate preventable spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of park guests and staff.

Park Manager Daniel Jordan said while he is sad to see the program canceled, it is ultimately in the best interest of everyone to wait until 2021 to resume the festival. The historically large number of guests who attend the Firefly Festival would make physical distancing difficult.

“The health and safety of park visitors and park staff remain our highest priority,” Jordan said. “We’ll revisit hosting special events like the Firefly Festival at the direction of Governor Northam and the recommendations of his office.”

At this time, gatherings of more than 10 people, with the exception of immediate family, are still prohibited.

Originally scheduled for June 19-20, the Firefly Festival invites guests to walk out onto High Bridge at night to watch thousands of fireflies glow and pulse beneath them in the forest canopy around the Appomattox River.

For the most up-to-date information regarding available recreational opportunities at Virginia State Parks, visit http:// virginiastateparks.gov/ covid-19-update.