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The question of whether the state fair would go forward was answered earlier this week when the Ohio Expositions Commission announced the fair’s cancellation:

The Ohio State Fair’s management team, as well as the Ohio Expositions Commission, have been carefully evaluating all available information from state and local health officials, as well as the financial feasibility of a reduced capacity fair, over the last several weeks. Today [May 21], the Ohio Expositions Commission voted to cancel the Ohio State Fair in effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the Fair for future generations.

“I grew up at fairs, showing animals and being a part of FFA and 4-H. I know how important fairs are for our youth, and that made it all the harder to share that the Ohio State Fair is canceled,” said Virgil Strickler, General Manager of the Ohio State Fair. “We have been carefully evaluating the financial feasibility of a reduced-capacity fair, as well as public health recommendations, over the last several weeks. As we looked at the dollars, it became clear that in order to protect the long-term viability of the Ohio State Fair, the best decision was to cancel the 2020 event.”

The commission shared that instead of coming together in person, the celebration of agriculture and our great state will happen at a distance via social media, with a collection of educational content and favorite fair memories. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates throughout the summer.