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The News Observer
Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited (BRMTU) has decided to cancel the 2020 Blue Ridge Trout & Outdoor Adventures Festival, commonly known as “Trout Fest.”
“BRMTU believes we share a responsibility to help protect our families and community amid the ongoing crisis, while we also help assure a clear path for recovery in our community when the crisis is passed,” Trout Fest event coordinator Bob Borgwat said. “We hoped a late July presentation of Trout Fest was doable, but at this date, our local, state and federal authorities have not clearly provided a path for when or how the recovery period will be realized. Without that direction, we, too, cannot clearly see a path that leads us to a safe date for presenting an unfettered Trout Fest that meets the demands our organization has placed on itself for serving our sponsors, vendors and visitors.”
The organization has now shifted its fundraising focus to present the 2021 Blue Ridge Trout & Outdoor Adventures Festival next spring April 24 in Blue Ridge.
“Meanwhile, a lot of thanks goes out to our vendors, sponsors and visitors for your support for this year’s Trout Fest,” Borgwat said. “We planned a good one and could not have done it without your participation. We’re already planning Trout Fest 2021 to celebrate not only trout fishing and other outdoor recreation … heck, we’re going to celebrate re-opening the North Georgia mountains! We hope you plan to join us!”
According to Borgwat, the decision was made in line with the City of Blue Ridge’s decision to cancel or postpone all public events until further notice.
“We will follow the city’s guidelines as these are determined by the city with advice and updates from the Fannin EMA and Department of Public Health,” he said.