Last Updated on August 2, 2020 10:35 am
Officials with the Woolly Worm Festival have announced the cancellation of the 2020 event.
“It is with deep sadness that the 2020 Woolly Worm Festival of Banner Elk has been canceled.”, began a press release posted online by the Avery County Chamber of Commerce.
“This is not a decision the Woolly Worm Board of Directors has taken lightly. Every year, profits from the festival are given back to our community to enhance the lives of children and to promote business and tourism in Avery County. Local businesses and organizations also benefit from festival visitors to our community.”, the statement went on to say.
“After careful consideration and guidance from local and state agencies as well as the Boards of Directors from the Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk and the Avery County Chamber of Commerce the decision was made to cancel this year's onsite Woolly Worm Festival on October 17 and 18, 2020. We know it’s the right decision based on the information we have today.”
“Your safety comes first, and we're grateful to all who planned to be a part of this year's Woolly Worm Festival, and who've made it a fall tradition since 1978. We hope you'll join us when the Festival returns to Banner Elk in 2021.”, the statement added.
The Woolly Worm Festival’s Board of Directors will be developing a link from their website to many of their vendors so that you will still be able to support and purchase some of their handicrafts online. The Board is also working on a way to decide which Woolly Worm will determine this winter’s weather forecast with virtual online races.
Plans are also being made for a way that children can interact with Merryweather online. For more information check the Woolly Worm website (www.woollyworm.com), Avery Chamber website (www.averycounty.com) and the Woolly Worm Facebook page for further details as plans develop.
