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Festival Headlined By Aretha Franklin Canceled Week After Being Announced

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | July 29, 2016 3:13pm | Updated on July 31, 2016 2:15pm
 A food and wine festival, which was slated to be headlined by Aretha Franklin, was just canceled Thursday as the organizers said they needed more time to prepare the event.
A food and wine festival, which was slated to be headlined by Aretha Franklin, was just canceled Thursday as the organizers said they needed more time to prepare the event.
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FOREST HILLS — A music and food festival scheduled for September and slated to include performances by Aretha Franklin and Sheryl Crow has been canceled one week after it was announced.

Just last week organizers announced that about 40 top chefs, including Daniel Boulud and David Waltuck, and more than 75 top wineries from around the world were on board for the two-day event initially scheduled for Sept. 17 and 18 at the Forest Hills Stadium.

But Thursday organizers of the inaugural City Winery Open announced they will postpone it until next year because they need more time to prepare.

“We needed much more time to fully produce an event of this magnitude,” Michael Dorf, the founder of downtown wine bar City Winery wrote in an email sent to ticket holders Thursday night.

His message was also posted on the festival's website.

In addition to the headliners, Jakob Dylan and The Wallflowers, Gillian Welch, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Dawes, Josh Ritter, Deer Tick, Houndmouth and The Wild Feathers were also scheduled to perform.

Tickets for the event, ranging from $75 to $750 per day and from $140 to $1,350 for a two-day pass went on sale July 21 — the same day the City Winery Open was announced. Those who already bought them will receive a full refund, the organizers said.

“We sincerely apologize for the pre-mature and unprepared enthusiasm that fueled going on sale with this unprecedented festival," Dorf added.  

The organizers referred questions to the statement posted on the festival's website. 

It was not immediately clear whether the event next year will include the same lineup.

"We really want the first year to be a huge success and just need the additional time to make it work correctly," Dorf wrote.