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UPDATE: Weather forces downsizing of Winsted Fall Foliage Festival

WINSTED — With a huge swath of showers and thunderstorms predicted to hit the Northeast Friday night and into Saturday, organizers of the town's annual Fall Foliage Festival are scaling back the event and canceling the originally scheduled car and boat shows.

Instead of lining booths and tents on the north side of Main Street, the Friends of Main Street organization is moving the festival off the street and onto the sidewalk, where local merchants will team up for a Saturday sale. Merchants who signed up for booths on Main Street will either receive refunds or be invited to set up shop on the sidewalk.

"A lot of merchants will still be participating, but the street will not be closed to traffic," said Friends of Main Street Executive Director Helen Bunnell Friday morning. "We're calling all the vendors and letting them know today."

The Winsted Elks, who planned their annual antique and classic car show on Main Street, announced Thursday night that the event was canceled. In addition, the Highland Lake Watershed Association scrapped a boat show celebrating the 50th anniversary of the organization.

The annual Fall Foliage Festival has been canceled once before due to rain. Last year's festival was well-attended with sunny skies, which visited the area a day early this year.


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