Editor’s note: The Garden Club has since rescheduled these events for Dec. 10. For all the details click here.

The annual Every Light a Prayer for Peace Ceremony hosted by the Russellville Cultura Garden Club was not the first event to be canceled this year, but it was the first in a while to be canceled because of something other than COVID-19.

The event was supposed to take place Thursday afternoon. Garden Club member Susie Malone said the decision was made last minute to cancel because of the rain.

“This was something we knew was a possibility of happening, but we hoped the weather would give us enough of a window,” Malone said.

In addition to canceling the annual Every Light a Prayer ceremony, the weather also forced the cancellation of the first Russellville Christmas Tree Lighting.

The tree lighting was set to take place across the street from the courthouse in front of the Byars Building on Jackson Avenue after Cecil Batchelor and his family agreed to let the garden club plant the Christmas tree there.

The Christmas tree is a 12-foot Norway Spruce, which Malone said will grow to be around 40-50 feet tall.

Malone said club members have discussed rescheduling the two events, but there are currently no plans.