On Friday the Leland Chamber of Commerce shared to Facebook:

It is with great sadness that we announce the official cancellation of the 2024 Leland Wine and Food Festival. For those interested in learning why we cannot host our historical fundraising event please read the prepared statement below. All others, please understand that this decision was out of our control and we will continue to put forth our best efforts to arrive at an alternative solution for Leland Wine and Food Festival 2025.

Additionally, since this was the sole fundraising event for the volunteer-run Leland Michigan Chamber of Commerce there is a significant chance additional annual events funded by The Leland Chamber will be postponed for 2024.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Anyone who’s been involved with Leland and/or wine knows, the Leland Wine Festival is a MASSIVE engine for events & improvements in Leland. It’s also Michigan’s oldest wine festival & was a big driver of the rise of Leelanau wines & wineries on the state & national scene. We really hope the Harbor Commission pulls their heads out of carp or wherever they have them & gets a clue to the fact they wouldn’t be the kinglets of a massive harbor complex without the tourism that the Leland Chamber brings.

Here is the posting from the Leland Chamber of Commerce website:

“The Leland Chamber of Commerce is facing an unprecedented challenge that threatens the continuation of the historical Leland Wine and Food Festival, a 35-year tradition, and our community’s primary fundraising event. After a hiatus due to COVID-19 and subsequent years of adapting to harbor construction constraints by relocating to The Leland Lodge, our hopes to return to the Leland Harbor were dashed by an unexpected refusal from the Harbor Commission. This decision disrupts a long-standing tradition and jeopardizes funding for numerous community activities and beautification projects that have become integral to our town’s character and vibrancy.

The Leland Wine and Food Festival is not just an event but the backbone of our community’s annual funding program. The funds raised are critical for supporting a wide range of activities, including but not limited to: village beautification and flowers, 4th of July fireworks, holiday lights on Main Street, town marketing and promotion, and essential services such as trash removal and maintenance of public restrooms. These events and services, coordinated and executed by dedicated Chamber members and community volunteers, are vital for fostering community spirit and maintaining our town’s appeal.

We find ourselves at a pivotal moment, urgently needing to devise a new strategy to ensure these community initiatives can continue without the festival’s traditional revenue stream. While we eagerly anticipate the Festival’s return in 2025, the absence of its financial support this year presents us with a challenge unlike any before. Our vibrant community initiatives and the spectacular events we cherish are at risk, and we find ourselves in need of your generous support to bridge this gap.

This is a call to action for all who enjoy the special community spirit unique to Leland and our rich Leland Wine and Food Festival fundraiser tradition. Your support in this challenging time is not just a donation; it’s an investment in our town’s beauty, unity, and ongoing vitality. We are reaching out for donations and sponsorships to navigate through this temporary setback with resilience and determination. Every contribution, big or small, will pave the way for our continued success and the return of our treasured festival and fundraiser. You can easily donate by clicking the donate button on our website, sending a check to the Leland Chamber of Commerce at PO Box 741, Leland, MI 49654, or contributing through our GoFundMe page “Keep our chamber afloat,” organized by our Treasurer Casey Plamondon.

Yours for Leland,
The Leland Chamber of Commerce