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May 19, 2020 | Sheepshearing Festival at Gore Place Cancelled
Dear members and friends of Gore Place,
Everyone at Gore Place is very sorry to share the news that, after many discussions, we have decided not to hold the Sheepshearing Festival this summer or fall. We feel that there is too much uncertainty about public health in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic to be able to successfully and safely hold the Festival in 2020. The loss of the Festival creates significant financial challenges, but the well-being of all involved is our highest priority.
The Sheepshearing Festival is our largest fundraising event of the year, raising critical operating funds that keep our organization running and thriving. Without a Festival in 2020, we face financial peril. While we are offering full refunds to our advance ticket holders and vendors, we hope that many of you will support us through tax-deductible donations.
We were grateful to be able to host a virtual Sheepshearing Festival on April 25. You can view a captioned recording of this virtual event on our website soon.
The Sheepshearing Festival has taken place on the last Saturday in April every year since 1987. We thank our loyal community of visitors, friends, members, staff, volunteers, Board of Governors, and the many artisans, historical reenactors, vendors, performers and sponsors who make the Sheepshearing Festival such a success. We look forward to being back with you next year on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Please read on for more information about refunds for ticket holders and vendors.
Sincerely,
Susan Robertson
Executive Director
Information on refunds for advance ticket holders
Customers who purchased advance tickets for the 2020 Sheepshearing Festival have three options:
- Customers can get a full refund for the amount of their advance ticket purchase by contacting us here: events@goreplace.org
- Customers can turn their advance tickets into a tax-deductible donation by contacting us here: events@goreplace.org (Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.)
- Customers can turn their 2020 Festival tickets into 2021 Festival tickets by contacting us here: events@goreplace.org
Customers that wish to have a refund or to use their tickets next year must inform Gore Place by June 15, 2020. After this date, unclaimed advance tickets will be turned into a donation and we will send those customers a donation receipt.
Information for Gore Place Members
Gore Place members who had memberships with expiration dates of April 26, 2020 or later will be able to attend the 2021 Sheepshearing Festival for free at the level of their current membership. Members who renew their memberships now will receive an additional three months added automatically to their membership. Members can email questions to Kali Noble at kalinoble@goreplace.org.
Information for Festival Vendors
Festival vendors who have paid in advance for their booth space have three options:
- Vendors can get a full refund for their booth space payment by contacting us here: events@goreplace.org
- Vendors can turn their booth space payment into a tax-deductible donation by contacting us here: events@goreplace.org(Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.)
- Vendors can apply their 2020 Festival booth space payment to a booth space at the 2021 Festival by contacting us here: events@goreplace.org
Vendors who wish to have a refund or to use their booth payment at the 2021 Festival must inform Gore Place by June 15, 2020. After this date, 2020 booth payments will be turned into a donation and we will send those vendors a donation receipt.
Information for Festival Sponsors
We are reviewing Festival sponsorships on a case-by-case basis, as each sponsorship is unique. Festival Sponsors may contact Susan Robertson at susanrobertson@goreplace.org for more information.
