Announcement from Mark Keck

March 31, 2020

Dear Family and friends,

We all find ourselves in extraordinary circumstances, coming together to ensure the health and safety of our families, neighbors and communities as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to escalate. We assure you that MCTA and the Tennessee Mountain Laurel Festival have the health and safety of all our visitors as our top priority.

We have carefully and continually monitored the current situation and have come to what we feel is the right and prudent decision giving all of these factors to cancel this year’s festival.

We wish to thank our vendors who have so graciously committed to our event and to the tireless efforts of our volunteers who put this event together year after year.

The Inaugural year for the 5K Ridge Run is also canceled and will have its first-year next year.

The TNMLF Hiking Marathon is postponed to help support out State Park partners as they try to continue to offer outdoor activities through hiking, yet maintain a safe environment with the limited use of facilities.

We are fully aware of the economic impact that this has on our vendors as this type of events are their sole source of income.

We encourage all to continue to stay connected through Facebook and our web page. There are other upcoming events throughout the area that you might be interested in attending. We also have other tourism business partners offering specials and a way to contact them. We would be happy to place your link on there too.

HikeMOCO has suspended their group hikes but are a great source of information on trails especially in our neck of the woods. Contact them through Facebook with any of your questions or just sharing your thoughts and tips on trails you have been or want to go on.

We are a strong and resolved Nation of communities that truly care for one another. We will get through this and become stronger than ever before. It always seems the darkest just before the dawn.

Our prayers and thoughts go out to all and especially those who have been afflicted with this disease.

Stay safe and God Bless.

M. H. Keck

Chairman

Morgan County Tourism Alliance