New London's Sailfest Canceled For 2021 Due To Coronavirus

NEW LONDON, CT — The annual Sailfest celebration has been canceled for the second straight year in 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Downtown New London Association announced this week.

"The Downtown New London Association and Neff Productions announced that due to the current situation and for the safety or our community we will not be having the annual Sailfest event in downtown New London for 2021," organizers wrote on the event's website.

Typically held in July, the event draws people from throughout the New London region for a fireworks display and other entertainment and activities. It has been held for more than 40 years.

According to Barbara J. Neff, owner of Neff Productions and executive director of the Downtown New London Association, smaller events are being planned for this summer to replace Sailfest.

"The good news is, the Sailfest team is working with the City of New London to have five smaller events this summer," she said in a statement. "We are still in the planning stage and will announce the events soon."