Adirondack Festivals LLC announced today that with the uncertainty surrounding large event safety protocols, they have decided to cancel the 2020 Adirondack Wine & Food Festival. The Festival originally planned for June was moved to September due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Over the past several months, we held out hope that we would be able to provide our attendees with the experience they have come to know and love, including sampling from more than 120 of New York’s best wineries, breweries, cideries, distilleries and artisan food vendors,” says owner Sasha Pardy. “However, it has become clear that we would not be able to hold an event we, our attendees or vendors would be happy with. While it pains me to have to cancel an event that so many people look forward to every year, we feel this is the best option for everyone involved. Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival community.”
The 2020 Adirondack Wine & Food Festival would have been the 6th anniversary for the event that attracts thousands each June from across the United States and Canada. New York State currently requires visitors from 35 states to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, which factored into Adirondack Festival’s decision to cancel this year.
The Festival’s beneficiary, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, was to receive a portion of ticket sales and raise funds for their program through merchandise sales at the festival. “We are saddened to hear that we will not be able to partner with the Adirondack Wine and Food Festival this year,” says Bill Moon, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks. “The COVID-19 pandemic has taken so much from so many and while we are disappointed, we remain thankful for such wonderful community partners like the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival and the presenting sponsor Adirondack Winery. The children and families we serve need us now more than ever. Our path forward remains unclear, but I am confident our community will get through these troubling times.”
Refunds will be issued to all 2020 Adirondack Wine & Food Festival ticket holders. Adirondack Festivals will contact ticket holders who can expect to receive their refund in 1 to 2 weeks. The Festival will return in 2021 on its normally scheduled dates, June 26-27, the last weekend in June.