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FARMER WHO

ORGANIZED FEST

UNDER ARREST

As 1,500 Gathered On Hill, Knarich

Ignored Warnings, Sheriff Alleges

An attendee wanders through the 23 annual NY Harvest Fest & Freedom Fair/Political Rally Sunday afternoon atop Allen Road, Town of New Lisbon, about three miles northwest of Mount Vision. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)

By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

George Knarich is being held at the county jail, pending his arraignment. He is expected to be released this evening.

NEW LISBON – The organizer of what's been described as a pro-marijuana-legalization festival that drew as many as 1,500 people to a rural hilltop over the weekend was arrested this morning.

George A. Knarich, 55, is charged with violating Governor Cuomo's executive orders against COVID-Era mass gatherings on land, it is further alleged, that had been seized by Otsego County as a tax foreclosure – he didn't even own it.

According to Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr., his department received a tip that NY Harvest Fest & Freedom Fair/Political Rally, featuring music and vendors, was still scheduled, despite the executive order banning "non-essential gatherings" of 50 or more people.

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