Atlanta Food & Wine has postponed its 10th anniversary festival originally scheduled for May 28-31 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In an announcement this morning, festival founder Elizabeth Feichter said that organizers had made the decision after considering the CDC’s guidance on events and large gatherings. Organizers said they are working to reschedule the festival for later this year.

» COMPLETE COVERAGE: Coronavirus in Georgia

Though the original dates for Atlanta Food & Wine fall outside of the CDC's recommended eight-week shut down on large gatherings, the chefs and restaurants participating in the festival will still be wrestling with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. In Atlanta, dozens of restaurants have temporarily halted all operations while hundreds more are operating with heavily modified service, such as offering take-out only and selling family meals. 

Despite the festival’s postponement, Atlanta Food & Wine will use its social reach to support the restaurants, chefs and businesses that had planned to participate.

“For the next few weeks, we will be highlighting our partner restaurants who are offering take-out and delivery to help generate awareness and help drive traffic to their businesses. We also encourage all of you to purchase gift cards to your favorite spot, if you are able, to use at a later date. We are hearing from our restaurant and bar partners that these steps will help many of these small businesses with much needed cash flow as they face lack of in-restaurant dining or temporary shutdowns,” said Feichter in a prepared statement.

For more information and to follow the festival's support of participating restaurants and bars, Atlanta Food & Wine is active on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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