The Tunarama Festival at Port Lincoln will not run next January, with the committee announcing it would begin "winding up" earlier this week.
"We are immensely proud as a committee of the work of past and present members, volunteers, quest ambassadors and supporters to create and uphold a tradition known as the Tunarama Festival for our community for over 60 years, however after several years of COVID and other factors, it is time for the event as we know it to end," Tunarama president Sharon Humenick said.
"The festival has been supported by many local businesses over the years, including major partners Bendigo Community Bank, the City of Port Lincoln and the South Australian Tourism Commission, however times are changing and there is opportunity for a fresh look at the event and how it could be run in the future."
Port Lincoln Mayor Diana Mislov said the festival and its constituent parts, including the famed "tuna toss" event was "synonymous" with the city and its fishing industry.
"Generations of locals and visitors alike have enjoyed all that the festival has offered over the past 60 years," she said.
But there's hope for locals yet.
Council CEO Matthew Morgan said the council would become a "custodian" of the festival's most iconic elements - "including the custom-made equipment and tuna that are used in the famous tuna toss event".
"We know there is a strong connection to the event, we know there will be questions about the future, but at this stage, we just want to safeguard the essence of the event, and at some stage in the future, we're sure that there will be a discussion about how this makes a resurgence," he said.
But Mislov said at this stage, the glorious return wasn't likely to be in 2024.
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