San Joaquin County cancels fair; Stanislaus, Merced fairs still on amid coronavirus
The San Joaquin County Fair has canceled its 2020 event because of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
The Stockton fair is the first in the Northern San Joaquin Valley to call off its annual expo, which was to be held June 18 to 21. In a post on its website and Facebook page Monday, fair officials said:
“After careful consideration and thoughtful discussion focused on the concerns of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the current financial situation at the San Joaquin County Fair, the Fair Board of Directors has decided to suspend the June 18-21, 2020 edition of the San Joaquin County Fair. This is a difficult decision and we know that it will take time for our Fair Community to recover. We appreciate everyone who has worked so hard to support the Fair. We look forward to celebrating our community with the 2021 San Joaquin Fair next year. The San Joaquin Fair wishes health and safety through these difficult circumstances.”
The Turlock-based Stanislaus County Fair (slated July 10 to 19) and Merced County Fair (slated June 10 to 14) are both still currently scheduled to go on as planned.
But the Stanislaus County Fair Board is holding an emergency virtual meeting Tuesday evening to discuss its schedule and financial situation in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Turlock fairgrounds already canceled all of its April events, and some of its May dates.
Moving forward, Stanislaus County Fair CEO Matt Cranford said the board is looking at a variety of factors to determine possible changes or cancellations.
In a written statement, Cranford said, “Factors that could affect the fair include how long the shelter order is in place, how other businesses are shut down and their economic impact, and how long our community is out of work.... We are also working to stay ready as a facility in case we are called upon to assist our community with COVID-19 related activities like becoming a makeshift hospital, or logistics facility. We are all in this together, and just waiting for further notice so that we can get back to business and getting our Fair on in July!”
Stanislaus Fair spokeswoman Adrenna Alkhas said state and local emergency services officials have discussed using the Turlock site as an emergency facility in case the COVID-19 outbreak worsens. But she said they are still waiting to “find out if and when we will be used and what that exact capacity will be.”
Merced County has already canceled its Spring Fair, which was scheduled for April 29 to May 3. It has also canceled other April events. Through its Facebook page it is encouraging people to sign up to be exhibitors or show livestock at its June fair.
In a written statement, Merced County Fair CEO Teresa Burrola said, “We are continuing to monitor the situation and remain hopeful that with action taken now, we can flatten the curve and be in a much different situation by June. As always, the health and safety of our team and community is of the utmost importance – and when the time comes we will make decisions accordingly.”
Any decision on changing or canceling the Merced fair dates would be made in late April or early May. Burrola said despite being a potential emergency location, the fairgrounds are not currently being considered as a COVID-19 response site.
In nearby Fresno County this week officials learned their fairgrounds had been unofficially rejected by the state as a potential emergency hospital site.
This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 2:27 PM.
