We just received  a news release that the Salute! Festival in Ojai California has been cancelled. This would have been the third annual fest.

OJAI, Calif., May 24, 2012 –  Today the annual Salute! Festival, celebrating finely crafted beer & food, announced cancellation of their upcoming 2012 event. The Salute! Festival was noted as the first large-scale event of its type in the California region and was synonymous with the expanding beer & food pairing trend. The partnership between presenting sponsors, Ojai Beverage Company and executive producer, Thirty-Three Productions, Inc. established the offering as a first-class quality, premier food and beverage event that stood in a class of its own. Salute! has taken place during Fathers Day Weekend since 2010.

“I have really enjoyed working on Salute the past couple of years and the decision to cancel the event was not an easy one” said Joby M. Yobe, Co-Owner of the event’s presenting sponsor, Ojai Beverage Company, “My goal has always been to provide a quality product for the enjoyment of our guests and I felt that it was impossible to accomplish that this year. On behalf of the Ojai Beverage Co. and myself, I would like to thank all of our patrons for their support.”

Salute! would like to extend its sincere thanks to its supporters who contributed greatly to the excitement of the event including, but not limited to: Alaskan Brewing Co., Anacapa Brewing Co., Barrel 33, Big Buddha Lounge, Bobbi’s Mexican Food, Casa del Lago, Classic Wines of California, Dr. Bill Sysak, Einhorn Beer Company, Enzo’s Italian Restaurant, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Green Mountain Brewing Company, Island Brewing Company, Ladyface Ale Companie, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Lindeman’s, Ojai Beverage Company & Tap House, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, Tap It Brewing Company, Telegraph Brewing Company, TNA Candy Beers, Ventura’s Surf Brewery, Westmalle Trappist, and Woodchuck Draft Cider, alongside many more breweries & restaurants.

In addition to celebrating finely crafted beer & food, Salute! also presented leading musical talent to its guests while bringing awareness to local beneficiaries such as the American Cancer Society of Ventura County, FOOD Share of Ventura County, and the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation.

The Salute! Festival Facebook page has posted the release, but as of this writing there is no information on ticket refunds. It’s unusual for a festival to cancel this close to the date, but not unprecedented. In July 2011, the inaugural America’s Finest Beer Festival in San Diego was canceled  just a few days before it was to occur.