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UNICOI COUNTY – The Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with local leaders and emergency personnel, has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Apple Festival, originally scheduled for October 4 and 5, due to the catastrophic flooding that has impacted the county and the region.

The decision to cancel the festival came after extensive discussions and careful consideration of the significant damage our community has experienced. The flooding caused severe infrastructure issues, including the collapse of several bridges, closures of major roads, and significant impairments to the sewer treatment plant.

“After speaking with our emergency personnel and evaluating the ongoing recovery efforts, it became evident that holding the festival would not only strain our resources but also divert critical attention away from essential recovery work,” said Amanda Delp, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce. “The health and safety of our community must come first, and we agree right now, for our first responders and public works officials is the priority of the challenges we face ahead.”

Given the current circumstances, it is too soon to determine a reschedule date for the festival in the midst of this tragedy. The Chamber and its board will be in communication with vendors in the coming days to discuss future plans for the festival once the full scope of the recovery is clearer.

The devastation of this natural disaster has affected many families and businesses throughout Unicoi County, disrupting lives and leaving lasting damage. Though the Unicoi County Apple Festival is a cherished tradition, the Chamber of Commerce recognizes that the community’s focus must remain on recovery efforts.

“Our community is facing an enormous challenge, and we will continue to stand together to rebuild. The outpouring of support from our residents, neighboring counties, and emergency services has been overwhelming, and we will keep sharing ways for people to assist in the recovery,” Delp added.

In the coming weeks, the Chamber will provide updates regarding recovery efforts and ways individuals and businesses can contribute to helping those in need. We are committed to navigating this crisis and will return stronger as a community.

We sincerely appreciate the understanding and support of our festival-goers, vendors, and sponsors. While the festival will be missed this year, we know that together we can focus on what truly matters – helping our neighbors and rebuilding our community.