The Sunnyvale Art and Wine Festival, a popular summer event, got canceled this year. The festival usually happens in June and has been going on for nearly 50 years, bringing in lots of people and vendors. The Chamber of Commerce usually organizes it, but this time, they said they didn’t have enough money or time to make it happen. This decision was made by the board of the chamber because the CEO retired, and they couldn’t manage it themselves. They thought about it again in February but decided to stick with canceling it.
They’re planning to bring it back in 2025 for its 50th anniversary. The city isn’t responsible for the festival; they just approve the permits. People are upset that the cancellation wasn’t announced earlier.
Some locals only found out when they asked about it. Terry Allie, who connects artists to festivals, thinks it was because the chamber didn’t manage things well. Another longtime attendee, Peter Cirigliano, was disappointed to find out from a friend.
He enjoys the festival’s atmosphere, where he can walk around downtown, enjoy local art, music, and the community vibe. He’ll still go to other festivals but prefers the convenience of Sunnyvale’s. Lisa Ramos, a small business owner, relied on the festival to connect with customers. Now she has to find other events to make money.