NC News: State Fair canceled for 2020
RALEIGH – Since March, the North Carolina State Fair and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have been monitoring COVID-19 guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to determine operating plans needed to produce the largest annual event held in North Carolina. After careful consideration and due to the continued uncertainty of conditions come October, the N.C. State Fair will not be held in 2020. The fair was scheduled to take place Oct. 15 through 25.
“I can think of a thousand places I’d rather be today than here delivering this news,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “The State Fair is a tradition we all look forward to each year. It’s a vital economic engine for local non-profits, community groups, small businesses and individuals. It’s a time for family and friends to come together to celebrate everything that makes North Carolina such a great place to live. We waited as long as we could, hoping the numbers would take a turn and we’d be able to continue with our planning, but each day brought more challenges than solutions.
The decision to cancel this year’s fair was based on the following:
safety and health of visitors, vendors, competitors and staff,
current COVID-19 statistics in the state,
North Carolina’s pause in Phase II of reopening thus limiting the size of gatherings,
contracts that cannot be cancelled at the last minute without a financial impact on the N.C. State Fair and the vendor,
and the long-term financial health of the N.C. State Fair.
