PORT TOWNSEND — FairWinds Winery has postponed Saturday’s “Augtoberfest” event, citing numerous public health concerns.
“The rising number of COVID-19 cases, the extreme heat warning, and the poor air quality index were all factors”, said General Manager Michelle Cavett in a press release Friday after the Peninsula Daily News published a story about the event on Friday.
Her father, owner and wine-maker Micheal Cavett, said, “many of our volunteers are older and may be at a higher risk from these factors. The risk is just too great to our staff, volunteers, and our event-goers.”
His wife and co-owner Judy Cavett added, “At first we thought this was going to be a difficult decision with all the commitments we’ve made (the live band, the hot-air balloon, etc), but the more we discussed it, the more we realized it was the only decision.”
People who purchased tickets are offered a full refund through the same vendor they used to purchase the tickets, or to keep them for the new date, which will be announced once the health concerns abate, Michelle said.
The tasting room will continue to operate on the weekends with current COVID-19 protocols in place, Michelle said.
“We are of course disappointed that this event is not happening on the date we planned, however it became increasingly clear this was the right thing to do. We’re working on making this event even better for when the time is right and we can all enjoy it safely,” she said.
More information can be found at their website www.fairwindswinery.com.
EARLIER STORY
PORT TOWNSEND — Visitors will have an opportunity of riding in a tethered hot air balloon during the inaugural “Augtoberfest” put on by FairWinds Winery on Saturday.
The new one-day festival was inspired by Octoberfest and will have food, wine/beer and other activities included with entry, said Michelle Cavett, general manager.
“My dad had always wanted to do an Octoberfest, which kind of is interesting because we’re not a brewery, we’re a winery,” she said in a Wednesday interview. “But, he just always like the festival feel of it.
“Our weather in Port Townsend tends to not be that great in October, so he thought ‘let’s do Augtoberfest’ where we would be mostly assured of warmer and better weather.”
The event is set from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday outside at the FairWinds Winery, 1984 Hastings Ave. West in Port Townsend.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://fairwindsaugtoberfest.bpt.me in advance for $35 or on the day of at the event for $50, Cavett said.
Tethered hot air balloon rides piloted by Captain-Crystal Stout of Morning Star Balloon Co. cost an additional $10.
A total of 200 people will be allowed at the event, with 100 spots available for the hot air balloon rides.
As of Thursday morning, 150 event tickets and 91 rides were still available, according to the online ticket counter.
Entry into the event covers a plate of food that includes bratwurst, coleslaw and beans, as well as a glass of beer or wine for those 21 and older.
Cornhole and Rochambeau tournaments are planned. The Delta Rays band will perform live.
COVID-19 safety precautions include holding the event completely outside and a check-in station for symptom screenings and temperature checks, Cavett said.
This is the believed to be the first event in Jefferson County that will allow people to ride in a hot air balloon, both Cavett and Stout said.
Stout said she is excited to offer the rides to the public.
“I think it’s awesome,” she said. “I like to see how many smiles we can bring to Jefferson County.”
Cavett hopes the event will turn into an annual endeavor for the winery.
“After my dad’s heart bypass surgery and cancer a few years back, and then the pandemic hitting, we are very pleased to offer this exciting event to our community as we grow our family business from its humble beginnings as Jefferson County’s first winery,” Cavett said.
________
Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski @peninsuladailynews.com.
