Cambridge’s Annual Dance Party takes place the last Friday in June in front of City Hall. (Photo: Kyle Klein)

It was probably inevitable: The City of Cambridge announced on Friday that it was canceling the year’s Dance Party, which was scheduled to be held June 26 in front of Cambridge City Hall.

Though it started with only 500 attendees in 1996, crowds have been up to 30,000 in recent years, more than filling the space in front of City Hall with dancers to DJ-spun music who are accentuated by a sophisticated light show as dark falls. The street is closed off in front of City Hall to allow for crowds, which grew to 5,000 by 2012, reportedly doubled the next year and hit 12,000 by 2014 before reaching levels seen in recent years.

In fact, all city-sponsored community events, athletic events, events permitted for the use of city parks or other city-sponsored public gatherings are canceled through July 1 or postponed to a later date, said Lee Gianetti, director of communications and community relations, in an email.

“All prior approvals for special events for the month of June are being revoked,” Gianetti said. “This policy will be reevaluated at the end of June.”

On the other hands, public meetings return in June – remotely. You can’t dance, but you can watch and listen to meetings of the Board of Zoning Appeal, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission and Neighborhood Conservation Commissions, License Commission, Planning Board, Pole and Conduit Commission and Election Commission.