WHEELING — Raceboats flying across the surface of the Ohio River will not be seen or heard in Wheeling this summer, nor will the scrumptious taste of chili be enjoyed at Heritage Port.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, two popular summer events — the annual Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta and 2020 Wheeling Feeling Chili Cook-off — have been canceled this year.

Regatta co-founder Debbie Joseph of Wheeling explained the event, which had been set for Labor Day weekend, will not be held “due to concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“This is particularly disappointing for us because, for the first time in our 14-year history, we were expecting a significant group of vintage hydroplanes from the Seattle and northwest Washington area to travel to Wheeling” for the regatta, Joseph added. The event annually attracts about 50 restored old raceboats, which open up their engines for demonstration heats on the river at the Heritage Port. Most of the racers come from the eastern United States, though past regattas have attracted some from Canada and even Australia.

Rose Humway-Warmuth, the committee chair of the Chili Cook-off, said while it was a difficult decision to make, organizers feel that canceling the event is in the best interest of all involved.

“It is of utmost importance that everyone — from our staff members and volunteers who make the cook-off happen to the participants and the folks attending — remain healthy and safe,” she said. “The nature of the event, that typically draws a large crowd, makes social distancing impossible, so we decided to put things on hold until 2021.”

Humway-Warmuth noted that cooks and chili lovers alike should mark their calendars for June 5, 2021.

“We will look ahead to next year’s event when we can all enjoy the fun, festive atmosphere and great food to which we have grown accustomed,” she said, adding entertainment and the car cruise will again be on the slate of activities for the day.

Held at Wheeling’s Heritage Port, the Chili Cook-off is sanctioned by the International Chili Society and sponsored by the city of Wheeling. Proceeds from the event benefit the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley.

Meanwhile, the regatta’s proceeds benefit the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center in Wheeling. Since its founding, the event has contributed $93,000 to the center.

Joseph, who founded the event with her husband, Dr. Dan Joseph, said plans already have begun to stage the regatta on Sept. 4-5 next year.

She added that regatta officials “would like to express our deepest admiration to our sponsors — WesBanco, Savage Crane and Construction, Merco Marine, Family Medical Supply, Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, The Health Plan, the Ohio County Commission, Wheeling Volkswagen-Subaru, the city of Wheeling, Philip D. High, DDS; Lamar Outdoor Advertising, McClellan Sign Co., Super Mail Inc., C.A. House Productions, The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, The Green Tab, Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Wheeling Heritage. We’d also like to thank the Northern Panhandle delegation of the West Virginia Legislature for their work in including the regatta in the yearly Fairs and Festivals budget.”