Three major London festivals are the latest casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic, setting up what could be a much more subdued summer than we usually see in the downtown core.

Sunfest and the Home County Music and Art Festival, both scheduled for Victoria Park during weekends in July, as well as Rock the Park in Harris Park, will be cancelled this year, organizers say.

They made the "difficult but necessary" decision to postpone the events until the summer of 2021.

"It's been an ongoing discussion for the better part of five weeks now. It's both a difficult decision and also a no brainier," said Tim Fraser, the artistic director for Home County.

"We had to ask the question, 'What would be the best solution for our community, as well as for our vendors' and unfortunately, this was the decision that needed to be made," Fraser told CBC News. "It is very, very disappointing, but at the same time, it had to be made, given the current climate."

The festivals' postponements were announced Monday morning. The city also sent out a list of more than 40 events that will be cancelled or postponed.

"I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it must have been for organizers to arrive at this conclusion, but the fact they've done so is truly a testament to their individual character, as well as their commitment to the safety and wellbeing of Londoners," said Mayor Ed Holder in a statement.

"I have every confidence Londoners will reward these community-minded organizers by turning out in record numbers next year when festival season resumes in London, bigger and better than ever."

The events that are cancelled include a variety of runs and walks for many causes, from cancer to brain injuries.

Going ahead would be 'irresponsible'

Fraser said it would be irresponsible to put on the festivals, which pack Victoria Park with tens of thousands of people in a relatively small place.

"Even if things are better by July and there's a lifting of restrictions on public gatherings, we didn't think it would be in the public's best interest to ask the public to gather in such large crowds, and, worst case, we'd also hate to be part of the second wave (of outbreak) because of some asymptomatic people coming out to the park."

James Keelaghan playing at the Home County Music & Art Festival on July 20, 2014. (Travis Dolynny/CBC)

The postponements will have a giant impact on artists, food and craft vendors, as well as London's downtown economy.

"In these extraordinary and worrying times, nothing matters more than our commitment to protect the health, safety and well-being of the Sunfest family and the wider community in which we live," said Alfredo Caxaj, executive & artistic director of TD Sunfest."This was a very hard call to make, but it is clearly the wisest and most responsible choice," said Paul Mills, chair of the Home County Folk League.

"The path that the COVID-19 pandemic will take over the next few months is uncertain, and rather than take any chances, the most prudent course of action was to make this difficult but necessary decision."

The festivals attract tens of thousands of visitors from around the world and contribute millions of dollars to the local economy.

"This is an opportunity to be creative. We can live stream some concerts, and it won't be the same as being together in the park but it will be even better in 2021," said Caxaj.

International guests, who make up the bulk of artists at Sunfest, are unable to secure visas or book flights.

"July is no time to stage major outdoor public gatherings," organizers said.

The festivals will be back in the summer of 2021.

"The TD Sunfest and Home County festivals are special gathering places for friends, family and community. We know this announcement is difficult for many to hear as we crave familiar sights and sounds," said Andrea Hibbert, executive director of the London Arts Council.

Rock the Park refunds available

Organizers of Rock the Park, which raises money for charities, say refunds are available until May 31.

"These are without a doubt crazy and unprecedented times but as a city and community, we will all get through this," they said in a statement.

Two other major festivals, RibFest and Pride, have not announced whether they would cancel their events.