CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Mallard Creek BBQ is an event most North Carolina politicians have on their calendar every year.

But this fall the event at Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church in Charlotte won't happen.

Organizers canceled it because of COVID-19. 

The barbecue is held the week before Election Day and often attracts politicians from the local to even the national level.

Former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory and former Democratic Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts say campaigns have had to adapt amidst COVID-19, and that means a big blow for retail politics.

“They want to see their facial expression and reaction. It's not the same as a Zoom call with a bunch of little boxes,” Roberts says.

“It's a real loss to politics...Politicians are going to have to be more reliant on money and media to get their message across, and that's a sad commentary for what the future might hold,” McCrory says.

Roberts says campaigns have done a good job of getting creative during COVID-19.

Organizers plan to hold the barbecue but are accepting donations for the fundraising money lost this year.