The name has changed, but the festival goes on. According to a news release today, the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival has dropped the “Playhouse” from its name. It will now be known as the Vancouver International Wine Festival.

The wine festival was created in 1979 as a fundraiser for the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company, and raised $7.8 million over 34 years. But in March of this year the theatre company announced that it was ceasing operations. The final production in the 2011/2012 Playhouse season, God of Carnage, ended its run on May 5.

The release stated that the festival's board of directors will announce in July about future fundraising initiatives. “At present, the festival is constitutionally bound as a fundraiser for the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company, and changing the designated charity requires a change of constitutional purpose and bylaws.”

The festival will continue, however, under the new name. It is scheduled for February 25th to March 3rd 2013. The theme region is California, and the global focus is on Chardonnay.

The festival will transition to its new identity with a new Vancouver International Wine Festival website in the coming months.