The State Fair of West Virginia has been a steady, popular presence in the lives of West Virginians for nearly a century. It's something we look forward to every year! But, at least for 2020, it's one of the many events canceled due to COVID-19. That's almost unheard of, but not quite. In fact, the fair has been cancelled twice before...once for six consecutive seasons!
By now, I guess you've all heard the news about the 2020 State Fair of West Virginia.
It's been cancelled.
It was a hard decision for fair organizers, but not a surprising one, as the State Fair of West Virginia draws crowds of tens of thousands of people from all over the United States...exactly the potential exposure West Virginia doesn't need during a world-wide pandemic.
But it is disappointing, nonetheless.
We'll miss our favorite rides, we'll miss the live music, we'll miss the events and competitions.
And OF COURSE we'll miss the fair food.
But did you know that the 2020 cancellation is not unprecedented? In fact, the fair has been cancelled two other times in its history.
The most recent was 75 years ago for World War II, when it halted for 6 seasons, from 1940-1945.
And the fair was also cancelled for two consecutive years during the U.S. involvement in World War I in 1917 and the subsequent Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918.
But if you're willing to wait, there is always next year.
The State Fair of West Virginia has already been re-scheduled for August 12 through August 20 of 2021.
Were you planning to attend the state fair this year, and if so, will you plan to attend next year instead? What about this year, will you make any replacement plans? Here's one suggestion, if you do: Smoke Hole. It's not the fair, but it is a ton of family-friendly fun!
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