‘BIG PIVOT’
Annual Flurry Festival canceled this winter due to COVID
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » The Flurry Festival, one of the largest folk dance and music festivals in North America, will not take place this winter in the Spa City due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2022 event, originally scheduled for Presidents’ Day weekend at the Saratoga Springs City Center, has been canceled by organizers.
An update posted on the festival website in mid-December says: “The combination of the current Delta wave and an expected increase in cases caused by vaccine-resistant Omicron means that even vaccination and testing/screening requirements cannot guarantee a low risk of viral transmission at the festival.”
The Flurry, a more than 30year tradition, typically draws roughly 4,500 attendees and 400 performers to Saratoga Springs each February for a weekend of dancing, music, and workshops.
The last time the Flurry took place in person was February of 2020, just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, organizers opted to hold the festival in a virtual format.
Now, Flurry leaders are exploring options for holding an outdoor version of the event in the spring and will post any updates on the event website if plans progress.
“We promise, we’ll share more information as soon as we have it,” the event website states on an FAQ page. “This is a big pivot, and there are many details to be worked through. We can’t promise we’ll be able to pull this off, but we’re giving it a try.”
For those still hoping to enjoy some tunes, a live concert will be presented at local music venue Caffe Lena on the evening of Friday, Feb. 18 featuring some favorite Flurry performers. This concert will stream online as well for those who cannot attend in person.
More details are expected to be announced soon.
The FAQ page says that the Flurry is anticipated to return to the city center next year. “While we can’t know what this next year will bring, we have every intention of being back for 2023, for as full-scale and normal a festival as conditions permit,” it states. “We appreciate the patience and flexibility of our longstanding partner venues through all of this year’s ups and downs, and hope you will choose to enjoy the many other delights of Saratoga Springs this winter.”
Discover Saratoga is hopeful that Flurry-goers will still visit the area for winter fun even though the festival is canceled. The organization is offering a 10% discount pass for many local businesses, along with other specials, for Flurry attendees who keep their hotel reservations for the weekend.
“Though we will certainly miss the Flurry Festival this year, we wanted to let you know
that Saratoga is open and ready to safely welcome guests,” Discover Saratoga President Darryl Leggieri said. “We invite you to keep your reservations and to plan a fun weekend exploring all of Saratoga’s wonderful winter experiences. Visit a museum, soak in a mineral bath, or try some outdoor winter fun, like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
“The Saratoga region truly offers something for everyone … We hope you choose to visit Saratoga this February and we look forward to hosting the Flurry in 2023!”
Those looking to support the Flurry and help ensure that it survives and thrives through this year and long into the future can make a fee-free donation to the Snowy Day Fund online through PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/1382791.
More information about The Flurry Festival is available online at www.flurryfestival.org.