The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE), the annual gathering of wine makers and wine lovers slated to begin next week, has been called off amid concerns over coronavirus. It joins a slew of local events to face an abrupt change of course due to the public health crisis, including Hogs for the Cause, Top Taco, Beans Madness red beans events and the New Orleans Bourbon Festival.

In a statement, NOWFE organizers said the decision came from "an abundance of caution and concern" for the participants and attendees. They are assessing options to reschedule later in 2020.

"We recognize that our stakeholders may be feeling constrained by the COVID-19 outbreak, and we hope this decision lifts some burden on resources and uncertainty," NOWFE organizers explained.

Tickets already purchased will be honored when the event is rescheduled, they said.

"In the meantime, we urge our local audience to support our restaurants, hotels and vendors affected by this situation, while following guidelines and protocols set forth by public health officials," organizers said.

NOWFE has been a fixture of the spring calendar in New Orleans for two decades. It normally occurs later in the spring, but was rescheduled to March 18-22 this year.

NOWFE typically draws 7,000 people for a schedule of events that includes a pair of large wine tastings called Grand Tastings, a street party called the Royal Street Stroll and a series of smaller wine tastings, seminars and wine dinners. The event benefits the local nonprofits Cafe Reconcile and the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute.

Top Taco, scheduled for March 19, has been called off. Organizers plan to reschedule later in the year and say tickets and wristbands already purchased will be honored for the new date. The outdoor event, now in its fourth year, fills Woldenberg Park with restaurants and bars from around the area, serving a spread of tacos and cocktails.

Bean Madness, another annual food event, has been canceled this year.

This event, organized by the Krewe of Red Beans Parade, each year crowns a champion of red beans using a tournament-style series of competitive tastings. These were scheduled to continue March 11 through March 15 at various locations around town, followed by a pair of block party tasting events later in the month.

In a message to participants, Bean Madness founder Devin DeWulf said the event will take the year off "out of mega caution."

"I'd hate to make anyone sick and having people get together to taste beans and enjoy block parties seems like a risky move right now," he wrote.

Bean Madness doubles as a fundraiser for local community organizations.

The New Orleans Bourbon Festival, scheduled to begin March 11, has also been postponed. In a social media post, organizers said the “difficult decision was informed by the cancellation of this weekend’s public events by the City of New Orleans.”

Tickets will be honored at the rescheduled event. Now in its fourth year, the Bourbon Festival is a series of grand tastings, seminars, dinners and competitions held at venues around downtown New Orleans.

On Tuesday night, city officials announced they had canceled several large public events planned this week, including the Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day parade, the Downtown St. Patrick's Day parade, the Italian American parade, the Wednesday in the Square concert, the Single Men Social Aid and Pleasure Club second line and Uptown's Super Sunday event.

This story has been updated with additional cancellation information.

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