The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has claimed another annual event, at least for 2020. The Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has announced that the guided historic walking tours, originally scheduled to take place the first two Saturdays in Oct. are now cancelled.

The free walking tours are part of a statewide initiative by the Alabama Tourism Department to foster the exploration of Alabama’s history and culture. They have been held through the Five Points, Old Town and Madison historic districts.

The CVB hopes to return the walking tours for the spring season in April 2021.

“Our guided historic district tours are a crowd favorite among both locals and visitors, so while we’re disappointed to see them be put on hold for the fall, we know this decision is in the best interest of our guides and attendees,” said Judy Ryals, President/CEO of the CVB. “Past walking tours have drawn over 100 guests at a time, so we want to make sure the health situation is amenable to gatherings of that size before we proceed for another season.”

Those seeking a socially-distant alternative to the guided tours are encouraged to explore the area’s history through the CVB’s digital history tour. The digital tour covers various historical areas in the Rocket City and is self-guided, using recorded narration from local historians to guide you from site to site. The tour can be accessed online or via mobile app at any time.

Visitors can stay up to date on the latest Huntsville event cancellations and delays, travel advisories, and more on the COVID-19 travel resource page on huntsville.org.