Awareness Tour leaves us empty

I was prepping to attend the Gluten Free Awareness Tour scheduled for this weekend in Mount Laurel, when I discovered it was no longer listed on the tour company's website. I now have it on good authority that the event has been cancelled.

(Insert chorus of boos here)

Despite its website continuing to list an upcoming Chicago tour stop, I've been told that the business has folded. This information comes from a former spokesperson of the Celiac Awareness Tour company, which reflects the event's previous name. I was able to reach her on a personal cell phone when it became apparent that something was off.


I'm disappointed in losing an opportunity to discover new gluten-free products and talking with fellow celiacs, as well as those who manufacture foods for us. However, I've since learned that there were a number of consumer and vendor issues with the tour. A quick Internet search reveals a significant number of complaints related people not receiving refunds for other cancelled tour stops and vendors left in the dark about the status of their participation. (Blogger Gluten Dude wrote an eye-opening piece here.)


The demise of the company appears to have been abrupt. Social media messages promoted the doomed Oct. 5 tour stop in Cinncinatti up until Sept. 30. The last message posted to the company's Twitter account came on Oct. 3, announcing the Cinncinatti cancellation. No announcement appears to have been made by tour organizers regarding the South Jersey stop.

At least you can read about it on this and other gluten-free advocacy blogs.

If anyone knows how folks might be able to get refunds on their pre-purchased tickets, please post in the comments section or email me directly at gfgardenstate@gmail.com. I'm happy to share the information.