WEST STOCKBRIDGE — Those hoping to win glory for their oversized zucchinis in West Stockbridge will have to wait at least another year. That's because this year's zucchini festival is canceled.

In a Thursday statement, the festival's committee said it decided to skip this year's festival — originally slated for Aug. 8 — after it did not hit its volunteer recruitment goal of 100 people by June 1.

"In the interest of all our volunteers and our community as a whole, we unanimously agreed the best path forward is to hit pause, relax a bit, dream big and focus on long-term planning for future events," it said.

"We are so grateful to all those who had already signed up to volunteer this year and appreciate your willingness and understanding."

The committee said that it is "still set on growing our community together through collaboration and fun" and will be holding planning and brainstorming meetings later this summer.

"Keep your eyes peeled for more info and dates — we'd love for you to stay in touch and get involved," it said.

West Stockbridge Cultural Council Chair Marjorie Powell, who leads the festival, could not be immediately reached for comment on Sunday.

The festival debuted in the town in 2004, featuring a zucchini bake-off, a pet show, zucchini races, fireworks and more. It continued through 2013 before going on a nine-year hiatus.

Organizers originally envisioned it as a way to fill a dearth of townwide summer events. Every iteration of the festival has taken place on the second Saturday of August.

"Nothing has happened in the town for years," Joel Hotchkiss, then-director of the town's Cultural Council, said in 2004, during a meeting in which the town green-lighted the festival. "We'd like to give people a benchmark event in the summer between the time they're thawing out from winter and beginning to rake leaves in the fall."

The festival went quiet after 2013 despite drawing several thousand people that year. At the time, organizers said 150 volunteers were needed to stage the event, and several stepped down that year.

It was revived in 2023, spearheaded by Powell, who has been a part of the festival since its inception and has led the festival's committee.

Since then, the town has embraced its return. In 2023, the town's Select Board issued a resolution thanking organizers for the festival's successful revival. Since relaunching, the festival has featured a pet parade, baking contest, "zuck" rubber duck races and the return of its famous zucchini weigh-off.

In the past two years, winning zucchinis have clocked in at around 10 pounds — relatively small compared to champions of years past. According to Eagle archives, winning zucchinis between 2004 and 2013 often topped 20 pounds, with one of the largest clocking in at 40 pounds.

With the festival's long-term future again in question, the committee thanked its volunteers and the West Stockbridge community.

"Thank you so much for your warmth, joy and commitment to each other," it said.