Frankfort Fall Festival Canceled For 2020

FRANKFORT, IL — After originally announcing plans to move forward with the fest, organizers said Wednesday that Frankfort Fall Festival will be canceled for 2020. In a post on Facebook, Frankfort Fall Fest Chair John Clavio and Frankfort Chamber of Commerce Board President Bert Behnke cited a variety of reasons for the cancellation including "significant upticks" in coronavirus cases across the country.

"While Illinois is maintaining its numbers at this time, we watch our nation experience significant upticks. Upticks that have a direct impact on the Residents of Frankfort and the Volunteers and Patrons of the Festival," Clavio and Behnke wrote.

Frankfort Fall Fest, which is usually held over Labor Day weekend, attracts over 250 vendors from around the United States and other countries, organizers noted.

"It would have been very easy in May of this year, to make an announcement that Fall Festival was cancelled. 'We look forward to next year, better than ever. Thanks for your support and understanding,'" Clavio and Behnke wrote.

In an update to the community, Clavio and Behnke wrote that many civic and philanthropic organizations rely on the event.

"Not having Fall Festival means not allowing these organizations to give back and pay it forward in the same manner they have in the past. In some cases, these organizations may be forced to cease their operations all together."

Organizers said they reviewed many solutions and alternatives to make the fest work.

"Unfortunately none of them support the brand of the Fest, the Chamber of Commerce or the village of Frankfort," Behnke and Clavio wrote. "Unanimously the festival committee and the chamber of commerce board agree that we have no viable alternatives to make fall festival 2020 a reality. With much sadness and some tears, Frankfort Fall Festival 2020 is cancelled."

Patch has reached out for more information from the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce.