Cigars International announced today that the company has decided to cancel CIGARfest 2020, due to ongoing national and local restrictions surrounding COVID-19.
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, CIGARfest 2020 was postponed from its originally-scheduled timing in May and moved to October 16-17. However, current Pennsylvania state policies concerning COVID-19 make the 2020 event no longer viable.
Sarah Santos, president of Cigars International said: “After much deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to cancel CIGARfest this year. While it was a tough call to make, we needed to consider the expected state regulations and prioritize the health and safety of all who participate in the CIGARfest event. We are deeply disappointed because CIGARfest is an exciting weekend of comradery amongst old and new friends alike and a highlight on the calendar for many. We would like to thank our customers, vendors and members of the cigar community for their continued support. We look forward to resuming the event next year, better than ever.”
Ticketholders for CIGARfest 2020 have been contacted by Cigars International’s customer service team, and have been offered a refund or the option of transferring their tickets to CIGARfest 2021.
About CIGARfest
CIGARfest originally started as a small customer appreciation event in 2003 and has over the past 17 years grown into the largest consumer cigar event in the country. Each year, 6,000 of Cigars International’s biggest enthusiasts descend upon Split Rock, PA, for a weekend of great cigars, food, drink, camaraderie and shenanigans.
Over the years, CIGARfest has helped CI raise tens of thousands of dollars to benefit charitable organizations including Cigars for Warriors, a nationally-recognized charity that supplies cigars and other items to actively-deployed military personnel and veterans, and LifePath, an organization that serves individuals and families impacted by behavioral health, intellectual or developmental challenges in the state of Pennsylvania.
About Cigars International
A subsidiary of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, Cigars International (CI) was established in 1996 and is the largest internet and catalog retailer of handmade cigars and accessories in the U.S. Headquartered in Bethlehem, PA, CI has more than 1 million active online customers referred to as CI Nation, and annually distributes over 20 million catalogs to consumers across the country. CI has retail stores in Bethlehem and Hamburg, PA, and recently expanded to Texas, opening stores in Dallas and Fort Worth. The company is on target to open two new retail locations in Florida by the end of 2020. For more information, please visit Cigarsinternational.com.