CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — Fall just got a little less fun. On Friday, Cabarrus County announced that the 2020 Cabarrus County Fair scheduled for Sept. 11-19 has been canceled.
Officials said the difficult decision was made in consultation with public health and emergency management officials.
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The fair is the largest annual event held at the county’s arena and events center. In past years, it welcomed up to 80,000 people over a nine-day span.
The event requires more than a year of planning by staff, volunteers and partners.
At the current restriction level for COVID-19, staff would need to enforce state and federal guidelines for social distancing, temperature checks, proper use of face coverings and sanitation among guests and staff.
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“The magnitude of implementing the recommendations for mass gathering safety measures would bring significant financial implications and compromise the fair experience,” fair director Kate Sharpe said in a news release.
“The safety of guests, participants and the community is the highest priority in producing the annual fair. Ultimately, the risks are too great and we can’t compromise safety,” Sharpe said.
This is the first cancellation since the agricultural fair began in 1953.
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