Harmony’s replacement Christmas event has been canceled as a result of an uptick in county COVID-19 cases following its earlier cancellation of the annual German Christmas market.

The Harmony Christmas Kickoff, which supplanted its Weihnachtsmarkt, will not take place Saturday, said Rodney Gasch, Harmony Museum president.

The event — which would have featured a number of artisans, as well as glühwein and hot apple cider in commemorative mugs — was expected to be an outdoor event in historic Harmony from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 14.

“Even though it was an outdoor event, with a preponderance of caution for all involved we and the Harmony Business Association decided that it would be best to cancel the event,” Gasch said.

According to the state Department of Health, cases of COVID-19 have risen from a total of 1,846 in the county Monday to 2,002 Thursday, the highest rate of increase since the pandemic’s spring beginning.