The Great Geauga County Fair will be planned around Junior Fair participants after fair board officials decided to eliminate commercial exhibits, rides and grandstand shows due to recent Ohio Department of Health orders aimed to slow the spread of COVID-19, according to an Aug. 10 press release.
The Great Geauga County Fair will be planned around Junior Fair participants after fair board officials decided to eliminate commercial exhibits, rides and grandstand shows due to recent Ohio Department of Health orders aimed to slow the spread of COVID-19, according to an Aug. 10 press release.
“It is with a heavy heart that the directors of the Great Geauga County Fair announce a scaled back version of the 198th fair September 3-7, 2020,” Secretary Paul Harris wrote. “The latest order from the Ohio Department of Health and (Gov. Mike) DeWine does not give us the option to move forward with the plan that the fair board had worked tirelessly to put in place. We have exhausted every avenue available to move forward with a modified version of the fair that you all love and richly deserve.”
DeWine announced July 28 he would be issue an order to limit all county fairs to junior fair events only. In a public statement July 29, Harris said fair board members were “shocked and deeply saddened” by DeWine’s order.
The Geauga County Board of Health had also formally asked the fair to be limited to only a junior fair at their July 22 meeting.
On Aug. 4, Geauga County Commissioners discussed a letter from the fair board to Commissioner Tim Lennon. In it, the fair board brought up grievances regarding their communication with Geauga County Health Commissioner Tom Quade.
Geauga Public Health invited the fair board to a special meeting Aug. 11 to discuss plans for moving forward.
In his press release, Harris said the fair will work to provide Junior Fair participants with the safest and most positive experience possible. A small number of food vendors will be on-site to provide food to youth participants and their families.
Harris asked for patience from fair participants as refunds are processed for those who have already entered open shows, purchased grandstand tickets or secured vendor space.
Patience and understanding have been a blessing as the board worked through the pandemic and “ever-changing orders” from ODH, he said.
“To the countless members of our fair family, the thousands of volunteers, the dedicated members of our staff, we are humbled at the outpouring of support and positive thoughts that you have shared,” Harris said. “We are confident we will soar high once again.”
A schedule of events will be available at www.geaugafair.com as it becomes available.
