GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids’ annual summer celebration of art, music and performances has been canceled for 2020.

The city will not host Festival of the Arts, officials announced Tuesday, March 17 after receiving guidance from county, state and federal health officials monitoring the “rapidly developing COVID-19 situation."

The 51-year-old annual festival was scheduled for June 5-7, 2020.

“Cancelling Festival for the first time in 50 years was a very difficult decision, but we need to keep the community’s best interests in mind,” said David Abbott, executive director for Festival of the Arts, in a prepared statement.

“Festival leadership and our amazing team of volunteers remains committed to art for all and looks forward to bringing the event back strong in 2021.”

Festival of the Arts relies on more than 1,500 volunteers to create the free three-day celebration throughout downtown Grand Rapids. In past years, estimated attendance for the weekend-long event has been more than 300,000.

The event highlights every discipline of the arts, including visual art, music, film, dance, literature and design. It offers creative activities for children and adults to enjoy with opportunities to make your own art or purchase art from many West Michigan artists.

The festival features dozens of food booths run by local non-profit organizations.

"All of our volunteer committees would normally be hard at work over the next few weeks planning this year’s event,” said David Abbott, executive director of Festival of the Arts.

“With guidelines in place limiting gatherings, festival’s board of directors and I felt it prudent to advise a halt of committee activity for the health and well being of all of our volunteers.”

As of Tuesday, health officials in Michigan have reported 65 people infected with coronavirus COVID-19. That includes five confirmed cases in Kent County and one in Ottawa County.

The number of cases in Michigan has continued to rise since the first test came back positive on March 10. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency two days later.

PREVENTION TIPS

Michigan’s State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

· Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.

· Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same.

· Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

· Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

· Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available.

· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces(computers, keyboards, desks, etc.).

· It’s not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.

Read more on MLive:

Michigan doctors offer their best tips to prevent coronavirus

Grand Rapids to delay water shutoffs, postpone more meetings

Social distancing to prevent coronavirus transforms city meeting