A major pair of annual events and tourist attractions in Swift Current have called things off for 2020 with COVID-19 posing a risk to operations.

The organizing committee behind the Windscape Kite Festival and Long Day's Night Music Festival - events which have run concurrent over the Summer solstice in June since 2005 - made the announcement of their 2020 cancellation Monday afternoon.

The events combine to provide a big boost to the local economy yearly. In 2018, they aided in a jolt of $2.78-million into the city's hotels, shopping, restaurants, etc.

Even last year, the 15th-annual edition of the Kite Festival - and 17th of Long Day's Night, which began in 2003 - the weather-hampered event still combined to have an approximate 5,000 people attend. The organizing committee noted that roughly 11,000 attendees flock to the south side of Swift Current on average for the two events.

The dates have already been set for 2021, however.

Long Day's Night Music Festival is slated for June 17-20, with the Windscape Kite Festival set for June 19-20.