The Festival of the Arts for 2021 has been moved from April to June due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The festival will be June 22 to 27 instead of during the last full week of April, the Arts Council Oklahoma City announced Tuesday.

“Moving Festival of the Arts to June this year is the right decision for the event and the community,” said Peter Dolese, ACOKC executive director. “It gives more time for vaccine distribution and protection allowing us to design an outdoor event that implements CDC guidelines and creates an enjoyable, safe experience.”

The event was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The festival is traditionally held at Bicentennial Park and will expand to the east lawn of City Hall and Patience Latting Drive this year.

“Festival of the Arts is a major cultural event in our city and its return will, certainly I think, bring with it a return to normalcy in our community that is very welcome and very much missed," OKC Mayor David Holt said in a news release.

All accepted visual artists from the canceled 2020 festival have been invited to participate in Festival of the Arts 2021.

Click here for more information about the Festival of the Arts.