Plans for the annual Canadian Tire Welland Floatfest have been sunk due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event's founder said it was a decision not made lightly but one made in the best interest of everyone's safety.

The fifth annual event - it set a Guinness World Record in 2017 for the longest line of touching inflatables at 165.74 metres - was to take place July 5 on the Welland Recreational Canal.

Phil Gladman said the decision to cancel this year was made in the best interests of businesses who take part, sponsors who donate and make it possible, and the community as a whole.

"Since a rescheduling isn't possible with busy canal scheduling and an uncertain future, we will be working hard over the next year to blow everyone away in 2021 with the biggest event Welland has yet to see," he said Thursday.

Floatfest spokeswoman Daniela Siggia said the board of directors held a virtual meeting earlier this week and made the decision to postpone until 2021.

"Although we hope this pandemic is over long before the summer, the amount of planning required to organize an event of this scale is being severely impacted by state of emergency protocols and community safety has to be ours, and everyone's first priority," she said.

She said the board wanted to take any immediate pressure off sponsors and vendors experiencing momentary hardship due to the pandemic.

"Although we are very disappointed, we know it is the right thing to do both for our partners as well as the safety of the public," said Siggia, echoing Gladman's comment that 2021's event will be the biggest Floatfest yet.

Gladman first organized Floaftest in 2016 and was inspired by a community lazy river float event at the Kaljakellunta beer festival in Helsinki, Finland.

The event has attracted more than 1,800 people to go and float on the former canal on all manner of inflatables.

One aspect of the event that organizers want to see continue is the community food drive.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

"Local food banks counted on that collection to refill their shelves at a time of year when donations traditionally decline. Festival organizers urge fans and supporters to continue supporting community food drives throughout the year," a release from Floatfest said.

It said Welland Canadian Tire committed to donating $5,000 to be split between The Hope Centre and Open Arms Mission to help stock their shelves.