Due to the current conditions and health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Forest Service at Gov. Pinchot’s Grey Towers Historic Site has reluctantly decided to cancel the 2020 Festival of Wood, scheduled for August 1-2 in Pike County.

“With regret, the US Forest Service has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Festival of Wood,” said Grey Towers Director Bill Dauer. “With the health and safety of our visitors, community-at-large, vendors, participants, staff and volunteers as our primary concern, and our obligation to follow the Federal, State and Local guidelines and restrictions to help minimize the spread of COVID-19, we felt we could not offer the quality event that has become a mainstay in the environmental community.”

“We will now focus our attention on a bigger and better 2021 Festival of Wood,” he added.

The decision to cancel came after doing a risk analysis which weighed the benefits vs. the risk of hosting the event.

“Even though we know a lot of people were looking forward to the event, and we are sensitive to the economic impact that a cancellation may cause, we felt there were too many unknowns and too many risks to health and safety to move forward with the event.”

The Pocono Arts Council, which organizes the wood crafts component of the Festival, and about 50 percent of the educational exhibitors had already canceled their participation or voiced strong concerns.

The Arts Council is planning a virtual opportunity for the craftsmen. Click Here to learn more when posted.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Grey Towers Heritage Association or call 570-296-9630.   Click Here to sign up for updates from the Association, Like them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel, become part of their Google+ Circle and follow them on Instagram.

  Also visit the Grey Towers Historic Site website and the Pinchot Institute for Conservation website for information on its conservation research and policy programs.  Click Here to sign up for the Institute’s regular updates.

Related Article:

Visitors Invited Back To Gov. Pinchot's Grey Towers Historic Site In Pike County June 29

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[Posted: July 3, 2020]

7/6/2020