Residents and visitors enjoy the Festival of Colors in Wilmington in September 2014. (Enterprise photo – Andy Flynn)
WILMINGTON – The Festival of Colors, a staple on the city of Wilmington’s fall events calendar, was canceled this year due to staffing issues but is expected to return next year. It was originally scheduled for Sept. 14.
According to a Facebook post by the Whiteface Visitors Bureau on August 7, the festival has been postponed “due to a shift in staff and to provide the best experience for both vendors and participants.”
That was two days before Michelle Preston’s last day as director of the Whiteface Visitors Bureau. She has been the event organizer for the past few years and now works for Haselton Lumber and is starting her own event planning company, Elevate Planning and Events.
Chip Grundon, chairman of the board of the Whiteface Visitors Bureau, said that after Preston left, they simply didn’t have time to organize the festival in a timely manner. A new director, titled director of operations, has been hired and will be announced in a press release on Monday. Grundon said they plan to keep all of their festivals running, but they need time for the new director. “to get your feet wet.”
Preston, who served as director for 17 years, said she told the board Wednesday that she would be willing to work as a contractor for the Festival of Colors in the future.
Wilmington City Councilman Favor Smith said the Festival of Colors has always been a huge undertaking and the department has relied on Preston to make it happen.
“When you have a key worker like Michelle who works so hard, she can often do it all on her own,” he said.
The Festival of Colors has been held in Wilmington since 2004. The first year offered an opportunity to showcase local artists, purchase products and exchange winter sports equipment. Under Preston’s leadership, the event grew and last year featured more than 75 vendors.
As one of Wilmington’s two major fall events – the other being Oktoberfest at Whiteface Mountain Ski Center, scheduled for Sept. 21 and 22 this year – the Festival of Colors is a big draw, according to Grundon. The festival isn’t the only thing that draws people, though.
“We still have many guests who come here and enjoy the beauty of Wilmington and the Whiteface region,” Said Grundon.
At the moment the focus is on preparing the next Festival of Colors “bigger and better”, according to Grundon.
Next year’s festival, which will be the 20th time, is scheduled for Saturday, September 13th.
