Rockville Cancels Oktoberfest, Antique and Classic Car Show Due To COVID-19 Concerns

ROCKVILLE, MD — Oktoberfest and the classic and antique car show in Rockville have been canceled as the city manager cited concerns about COVID-19 and the Delta variant.

“In the interest of better assuring the health and safety of our residents, visitors and city employees in the face of the extremely concerning recent trends with this COVID-19 pandemic, as city manager I am today canceling both of the city’s high-attendance public events scheduled for this fall: Rocktobierfest and the annual Antique and Classic Car Show,” City Manager Rob DiSpirito said in a message to the Mayor and Council.

"Rocktobierfest" was scheduled for Oct. 2, and typically attracts more than 8,000 to Rockville's Town Square, the city said in the announcement. The Antique and Classic Car Show usually attracts 12,000 people, and was scheduled for Oct. 16 this year.

“I am not taking this step lightly, as none of us wish to disappoint the public,” DiSpirito said in the announcement. “If more people were vaccinated, we would not be in this position now. Given the pandemic metrics of late, particularly with the delta variant running as it is, this is the responsible and necessary step to take for public and employee safety, our highest shared obligation.”

The DeSpirito cited Gaithersburg's cancellation of its own Oktoberfest and the Bethesda Urban Partnership canceling Taste of Bethesda — both outdoor events of large sizes —and said he considered what local towns were doing when making the decision.