CREEDE — The 32nd annual Taste of Creede has been cancelled due to the uncertain Coronavirus situation according to artist Stephen Quiller, one of the originators of the event previously scheduled for May 22-25.

Quiller said the postponement was announced now due to the fact that patrons from as far away as Rhode Island, Washington D.C., New York, Denver, Santa Fe, Taos and other regions needed early notification. He added that all of the people that participate and help with the event need to be notified as well.

“This is a major fundraiser for our Chamber of Commerce as well as merchants of Creede,” Quiller said in his announcement. “Now is the moment when we need to help and support each other. Know that next year’s Taste of Creede is already in the planning and will be bigger and better than ever.”

Quiller and Rich Ormsby, then owner of the Creede Hotel, created Taste of Creede in the spring of 1989.

“At that time the mines had shut down and most of our citizens were unemployed,” Quiller said in his announcement. “On Memorial Day weekend there were very few people on the streets and there was not a Creede Chamber as we know it today.

“We felt it important to begin an event that would expand the shoulder seasons and be a celebration of the arts and food.”

Quiller said the event commemorates the opening of Creede’s summer season with over 40 artists painting on main street, a silver chef competition and the annual quick draw and auction fundraiser.