Organisers of Port Fairy's Vintage Weekend are hoping the theme of the event will still bring people to the town in September, despite a COVID-19 enforced cancellation.
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The vintage weekend was to be held on September 25-27, to coincide with the AFL grand final long weekend.
But as has been the way with most community gatherings since April 2020, the event has been ended before its time due to the pandemic.
It follows the cancellation of the 2021 Port Fairy Folk Festival and the Port Fairy Jazz Festival, which was announced last week.
This was to be the third staging of the event, with significant progress made from its debut year to its second coming in 2019.
Organising committee member Dean Robertson said the event had built momentum.
"After the first year we tinkered a bit and introduced some new things that worked well," Mr Robertson said.
"We had a Friday night cabaret which was an outstanding success and the picnic and fashions on Fiddler's Green on the Sunday were also very popular.
"It's a shame we have had to cancel but the uncertainty around COVID-19 and fluctuating restrictions makes it beyond our capabilities to be able to plan the event like we need to."
The 2019 event also included a display of vintage cars and caravans, a pin-up girl contest, the opening of the history centre and other historic displays.
While COVID-19 restrictions were tight at the moment, Mr Robertson said there was a small window of hope for some activity in the town during the last weekend in September.
"One thing we will be trying to do if restrictions, especially around travel, are eased by the end of September, will be to encourage people who came last year with their vintage cars and caravans to come back again," Mr Robertson said.
"While the official event would not be on, it would be good to get those who came last year to return and set this date as a trip to Port Fairy on an annual basis."