With the cancellation of the 2024 Leland wine and food festival finally a reality, the thought of not being able to raise a glass at this local function is a chink in the armor of summer plans.
For more than 30 years, the Leland Wine and Food Festival served as a pillar of Leelanau County’s wine industry that brings visitors in from far and wide to taste what Leelanau vintages have to offer.
The Leland Chamber of Commerce generates roughly $50,000 from the event, their sole fundraiser for the year, which includes revenue from attendance, vendors, and advertisements. The closing of the festival will undoubtably have a negative impact on the chamber’s ability to maintain the function of its website, social media, and statewide distribution of printed materials about the Leland area. The chamber distributes more than 30,000 brochures across the state that is funded by this festival. The Leland wine and food festival also is a major revenue generator for the Fourth of July fireworks.
