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CARTHAGE, N.C. — The 2021 Festival D’Avion celebration of freedom and flight staged at the Moore County Airport has been moved from early April to late October 2021 because of continued COVID-19 restrictions, Tarheel Festivals LLC has announced.

The new dates for the Festival D’Avion will be October 29-30, 2021.

The third annual Festival D’Avion was on track to be the largest and best to date in the spring of 2020, but the event joined a long list of community activities across the Sandhills, the state of North Carolina and the United States to be postponed due to health precautions.  Continued concerns for mass gatherings and timing of a vaccine distribution caused the event date to be postponed until this October.

All Festival D’Avion components, including the Celebration Concert, hospitality functions, Runway 5K race, aircraft exhibits, fly-overs and entertainment will be rescheduled for the October 2021 dates. All event sponsorships will transfer to the new dates, and any Festival D’Avion tickets purchased for the festival in advance or donated to military families will be honored for the new dates. Sponsorship packages and event tickets will remain on sale over the coming months.

“We are very disappointed to have to move our dates for a third time for the Festival D’Avion, but are doing so with guidance from the local and state health officials and from the Pentagon that controls the approval and participation for the military services involved with our event,” said Peter Stilwell, co-founder for the Festival D’Avion. “We are optimistic that outdoor events and festivals will return again in the late summer allowing our event to continue.  The continued safety for our Festival patrons, sponsors and volunteers continues to be a priority.”

The members of the Moore County Airport Authority have approved the new dates for late October.

“The Moore County Airport will continue to support the Festival D’Avion as a premier event for our facilities and for the community, “ said Moore County Airport manager Scott Malta. “We are in complete agreement with the Festival D’Avion staff that moving the event later this year is the best option to maintain a safe environment for the participants and guests.  It will allow the opportunity for this unique event to be successful.  October is a great time relating to weather and availability for greater participation from the branches of the military.”  

Tarheel Festivals will also be staging the inaugural Pinehurst Barbeque Festival in the Village of Pinehurst over Labor Day weekend 2021, with the dates of the three-day festival Sept. 3-5.

“We have some nationally renowned pitmasters coming to town in September and are excited to offer a Celebration of Taste and Tradition to a local, regional and statewide base of food lovers while also showing off one of the most unique settings in all of America – the North Carolina Sandhills,” said David Droschak, co-founder of the Pinehurst Barbeque Festival.

Tickets to the Pinehurst Barbeque Festival are scheduled to go on sale in early March.   

About the Festival D’Avion:
The Festival D’Avion is a celebration of Freedom and Flight and honors the men and women that have served in the armed forces.  The 1½ day event, hosted at the Moore County Airport, includes a celebration concert featuring the Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band, Runway 5K race/walk, special aircraft exhibits, scheduled aircraft fly-overs, Warbird displays, precision jump team exhibitions, programmed entertainment and a special scheduled fly-out of all participating aircraft.  The five branches of the military have approved participation for the Festival D’Avion and will provide a variety of static aircraft and military equipment displays.   Classic cars and trucks will also be displayed during the event. A variety of food and beverage options will be available from area and regional food trucks, craft beer breweries, North Carolina wineries and vendors.

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CONTACT:

Dave Droschak
(919) 630-6656
ddroschak@earthlink.net