photo by: Mike Yoder/Journal-World

The Grinch drives wagon and team of horses in the 2024 Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in downtown Lawrence.

Next week’s Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade in downtown Lawrence has been canceled due to a COVID-like virus that is infecting horses in the U.S.

Marty Kennedy, president of the Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade, told the Journal-World on Tuesday morning that the parade can’t happen this year due to an outbreak of the equine herpesvirus, also known as EHV.

While EHV creates no risks for humans, it is very dangerous for horses. Kennedy said he and the parade’s board of directors decided to cancel the parade, which was scheduled for Dec. 6, after many of the parade volunteers who bring horses to the parade said they would not be attending due to the risk of infecting their horses. Many of those volunteers are mounted on horseback and ride along the edge of the parade as part of the safety processes that are required to operate the event. Kennedy said about 30 of the 40 such volunteers had indicated they would not be able to attend this year’s event.

Kennedy expects the virus to eventually be contained, and said plans are for the parade to resume in 2026.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.