The D.C. Pachyderm Parade — beloved by some, reviled by others — will not take place this year, due to a change in schedule:

“Unfortunately, due to a change in schedule we will not be having the D.C. elephant walk this year. We hope that you’ll join Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus at the Verizon Center through March 23 to see our famous Asian elephants!”

A call to a hotline for the event repeats the same information.

The elephant walk occurs after Ringling’s trains arrive for a week of show’s in D.C. This year’s event was set to begin Tuesday at 8 p.m. But according to a representative from the public relations firm promoting the circus’ D.C. events, “The train departure from Cincinnati has been pushed back which means that the train is not slated to arrive in D.C. until sometime between 10 and 11 p.m. and we don’t like to have animals walk — no matter where — at midnight.”

This will also mean PETA’s annual protest of the event won’t take place, but campaign specialist Ashley Byrne says they will be outside the Verizon Center for every performance.

“Every year when we’re protesting the elephant parade and handing out information at the Verizon Center, every year we meet people who say it will be their last year at the circus,” Byrne said.