TAMPA, Fla. -- AirFest 2013 in Tampa has been canceled, a victim of the fight over the federal budget.

MacDill Air Force Base officials announced the cancellation Friday evening, shortly after the forced budget cuts known as sequestration kicked in.

The popular two-day event showcasing the machines and personnel of the flying service was scheduled for April 6-7. The event routinely draws up to 100,000 people to the area.

Terry Montrose, a MacDill spokesman, said the automatic budget cuts left the military no choice.

"We waited until very last minute,'' Montrose said. "We really wanted this to happen; a set of unfortunate circumstances forced this happen.''

Asked if the cancellation could be reversed if there were a quick political resolution to the sequestration stalemate, Montrose said he didn't think so.

"Canceled is canceled, not postponed,'' Montrose said.
 

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