Local News
Jun 22, 2020 • Last updated 5 years ago •
The cancellation of the 2020 Norfolk County Fair also means the cancellation of a host of other major events associated with the fall classic. This includes the Young Canada Day celebration at the Lloyd S. Culver Memorial Grandstand on opening day. – Monte Sonnenberg photo Photo by Monte Sonnenberg / file photo
For the first time since 1840, there will be no Norfolk County Fair in Simcoe this year.
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“It is with great sadness we announce that the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show will not move forward as planned,” general manager George Araujo said in a news release Thursday.
“The board of directors, in consultation with volunteers and staff, have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s fair. The safety and well-being of our community, volunteers, exhibitors, partners and fair patrons always comes first. Please be assured this decision was made out of an abundance of caution for all.”
Debbie Morrison of Waterford, president of the Norfolk Agricultural Society, sponsors of the fair, says the decision is regrettable but adds there is no other choice given the ongoing threat to public health.
“It’s a big deal,” Morrison said last Thursday. “It’s a very sad day, but it was necessary for the safety of everyone.
“We kept hoping the pandemic was going away but that hasn’t happened. They keep talking about a second wave, and right around the time we have the fair is when they expect it to hit.”
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The Norfolk County Fair is one of the major exhibitions on the rural fair circuit in Ontario. It joins a growing list of events in Norfolk that have been cancelled this year due to the pandemic emergency. Others include the annual Canada Day parade in Port Dover and Bayfest in Port Rowan.
George Pond of Simcoe has been associated with the Norfolk County Fair for more than 80 years. As chair of the fair’s photography committee, he got the impression in recent weeks that COVID-19 would have a significant impact on this year’s event which was scheduled for Oct. 6-12.
Pond, 86, says many long-serving volunteers have indicated they would be reluctant to attend this year due to the toll the coronavirus has taken on older individuals. All told, Pond says cancelling the fair “is the smart thing to do unfortunately.”
“The committees at the fair have a lot of older people and they’re running scared,” Pond said. “I would hate to have a fair and then have a great number of people come down with this COVID thing and have people blame it on us.
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“But times goes on and we’ll have another fair next year.” It’s been such an unusual time; it’s hard to believe everything happening worldwide right now.”
The fair board employs about 80 people during fair week. The seven-day fair generates about $10 million in economic activity,” Araujo said Thursday in an interview.” He added “Everything is onthe table” when asked about possible layoffs.
The cancellation is sad,” Araujo said,”but we could be worse off.” Araujo explained that since before making financial commitments for event costs like attractions which run around $300k or services from electricians or medical personnel costing about $60k.
This year’s prize money intended for exhibitors totaled around $150k,” but nothing will need refunding because entries never opened.” Thefair serves as an important revenue sourcefor”the Norfolk Agricultural Society especially when taking place during nice weather. With thisthefair being cancelled until at least nextyear,”Arajou stresses their focuswill now shiftto fundraising.” However”this too remains uncertain because social gatheringsare still prohibitedand distancing measures remainin place.”
MSonnenberg
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