SPOKANE — The annual race to welcome spring will have to be held in the fall this year.

Bloomsday, Spokane’s annual distance race held each May, is being pushed back to September 20, according to a press release from event organizers.

“This year, when COVID-19 began to make its way into our consciousness, we at Bloomsday worked with our local health officials, clinging to the hope that we could keep our first Sunday in May date alive,” organizers wrote. “However, developments which may have come at lightning speed over the past few days have made it crystal clear that it will be impossible to hold Bloomsday as planned.”

All participants that were registered for the May race will carry into September, those that can’t attend the new date will be registered for Bloomsday 2021. Organizers plan to reach out to participants soon via email for further details and instructions, the press release said.

“It is our fervent hope that the world will have COVID-19 well in the rear-view mirror by then and that Bloomsday will be the same great event — just on a different Sunday.”

Registration remains open at www.bloomsdayrun.org.