Boys Scouts and Apple Butter have been a big hit at Oak Harbor’s annual Apple Festival. (Photo by D’Arcy Egan)

The 2020 Oak Harbor Apple Festival scheduled for Oct. 10-11 has been cancelled due to Gov. Mike DeWine’s current orders banning gatherings of more than 10 people as well as festivals, parades and car shows, reported the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

The Oak Harbor Chamber said that its officials know many around the area are in favor of the festival and are probably thinking the chamber should wait longer, but asks everyone to understand the chamber has waited as long as possible to make this announcement.

An event the size of the 42nd annual Oak Harbor Apple Festival cannot be planned in a few weeks. The chamber is already past most of its normal deadlines and waiting any longer would not be feasible, said officials.

Chamber officers will be contacting vendors, entertainers and contractors to inform them and discuss their options. Its staff and volunteers pour their heart and soul into presenting the festival each year, and feel for the local clubs, churches, organizations, businesses and vendors that will be impacted by the cancellation.

The Chamber will now transition into early planning for next year’s Oak Harbor Apple Festival to be held on Oct. 9-10, 2021. It would like to thank all of its sponsors, participants, volunteers and others that make the festival possible, and hope to have your continued support in 2021.

With everyone eager to get out, the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce will be holding several social distancing activities starting Oct. 1. There will be a virtual Apple Run, a scavenger hunt, rock hunting, and weekly drawings. More details will come on these events in the coming weeks.