COVID-19 forces cancellation of Winona Peach Festival

Organizers of the Winona Peach Festival announce this week that the much-loved event will be cancelled this year due to COVID-19.

Organizers of the Winona Peach Festival announce this week that the much-loved event will be cancelled this year due to COVID-19.

A press release issued Thursday and signed by the festival board’s president, Linda Shuker, announced the decision.

“After much deliberation with our Board, Member Organizations, the City of Hamilton, and Public Health, it is with a heavy and sad heart, we are informing everyone that Winona Peach Festival will not be held in 2020,” it read.

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*CANCELATION NOTICE* After much deliberation with our Board, Member Organizations, the City of Hamilton, and Public Health, it is with a heavy and sad heart, we are informing everyone that Winona Peach Festival will not be held in 2020. The Board of Directors, along with the Member Organizations feel this is the right and responsible decision, cancelling our event and keeping the safety of our peachy community and volunteers is paramount during this critical time. As other Festivals and Events have pointed out, we want to be part of the solution, not the problem and we are making our contribution to assist in protecting everyone’s well-being. The cancellation of Winona Peach Festival is a great sacrifice for our 19 not-for-profit organizations but weighed against the risk to public health, it is the only decision. We look forward to 2021 with great anticipation, please stay safe, healthy and peachy. Linda Shuker President Winona Peach Festival

A post shared by Winona Peach Festival (@winonapeachfest) on May 21, 2020 at 12:50pm PDT

“Cancelling our event and keeping the safety of our peachy community and volunteers is paramount during this critical time.”

This would have been the festival’s 53rd year.

Its cancellation is somewhat of a foregone conclusion given the recent cancellations that have been announced (ie: Rib Fest) but the news will come as a blow to Hamiltonians who look forward to closing out summer with one of those incredible peach sundaes.

“As other Festivals and Events have pointed out, we want to be part of the solution, not the problem and we are making our contribution to assist in protecting everyone’s well-being.”

The charitable event, run by volunteers from 19 local not-for-profit organizations, was scheduled to run this year from Aug. 28 to 30th.

Peter and Paula Peach will undoubtedly be missed this year, but rest assured, they will be back for the 2021 festival.

“We look forward to 2021 with great anticipation, please stay safe, healthy and peachy,” the release concludes.

Photo courtesy the Peach Festival’s Facebook page