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Coronavirus outbreak forces cancellation of this year’s Fryeburg Fair

Coronavirus outbreak forces cancellation of this year’s Fryeburg Fair
THE IMPACT OF THE CANCELLATION WILL BE FELT THROUGHOUT THE REGION. WHEN YOU'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1851, YOU'VE SEEN YOUR SHARE OF ADVERSITY. THE FRYEBURG FAIR HAS BEEN WITNESS TO A LOT OF HISTORY. BUT OUT OF RESPECT TO SAFETY AND THE FINANCES OF ITS VENDORS NOW IS THE TIME TO CANCEL. 'WE CAN'T LET OUR VENDORS STOCK UP WITH $50, $100,000 WORTH OF STUFF AND CANCEL LAST MINUTE, IT'S NOT FAIR TO THEM.' LIVESTOCK, AGRICULTURE, FOOD VENDORS WILL ALL BE IMPACTED. WILBUR'S CHOCOLATE OF FREEPORT VISITS THE FAIR ANNUALLY AS A WAY TO INTRODUCE THEIR PRODUCT TO THAT PART OF THE STATE. 'WE HAND OUT A LOT OF SAMPLES, IT'S A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH US OFTEN TIMES FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHERE THEY HAVEN'T TRIED OUR PRODUCT BEFORE.' IT'S THE MAJOR FUNDRAISER FOR 25 NON-PROFITS, INCLUDING FRYEBURG ACADEMY. 'EACH CLASS GETS ONE OF THE WEEKEND DAYS TO HELP PAR CARS, THAT'S A MAJOR FUNDRAISER FOR PROJECT GRADUATION. THAT USUALLY BRINGS IN $3,000-$4,000.' -H CLUBS THAT WORK ALL YEAR TO RAISE THEIR ANIMALS FOR THE FAIR. 'WHAT DO THE KIDS LOSE, YA KNOW, NOT HAVING THE FAIR?' 'BEING ABLE TO SHOW THEIR ANIMALS IS WHAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH....LONG WEEK BUT THE KIDS LOVE IT.' A RECENT ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY CONCLUDED THE FAIR PUMPS $21 MILLION INTO THE REGION 'WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LOVE COMING TO FRYEBUR FA
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Coronavirus outbreak forces cancellation of this year’s Fryeburg Fair
This year’s Fryeburg Fair has been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak in the state, organizers announced Monday.The fair was scheduled to be held Oct. 4-11, but decided organizers to cancel because social distancing and personal protective equipment protocols would be nearly impossible to ensure.“We understand the fiscal role Fryeburg Fair plays in our community and the economic impact our event has on the many businesses, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, farmers, landowners and individuals in our community and this decision did not come easy,” organizers said in a statement.Organizers said they plan to continue to make improvements at the fairgrounds this year, with plans for the fair to return in 2021.The Fryeburg Fair closes out Maine’s agricultural fair season and is one of the largest fairs in the state.Other fairs that have postponed until next year include:Acton FairBangor State FairCommon Ground Country FairHarmony Free FairHoulton Agricultural FairLitchfield Fair​Maine Farm DaysMonmouth FairNorthern Maine FairOssipee Valley Fair​Union Fair & Maine Wild Blueberry Festival​Topsham Fair​Washington County FairWaterford World's FairWindsor FairFairs still evaluating the situation for this year include:Blue Hill FairCumberland FairFarmington Fair​Oxford County FairPiscataquis Valley FairPittston FairSkowhegan FairSpringfield FairThe status of Maine's fairs is updated on the Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs website.

This year’s Fryeburg Fair has been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak in the state, organizers announced Monday.

The fair was scheduled to be held Oct. 4-11, but decided organizers to cancel because social distancing and personal protective equipment protocols would be nearly impossible to ensure.

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“We understand the fiscal role Fryeburg Fair plays in our community and the economic impact our event has on the many businesses, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, farmers, landowners and individuals in our community and this decision did not come easy,” organizers said in a statement.

Organizers said they plan to continue to make improvements at the fairgrounds this year, with plans for the fair to return in 2021.

The Fryeburg Fair closes out Maine’s agricultural fair season and is one of the largest fairs in the state.

Other fairs that have postponed until next year include:

  • Acton Fair
  • Bangor State Fair
  • Common Ground Country Fair
  • Harmony Free Fair
  • Houlton Agricultural Fair
  • Litchfield Fair
  • ​Maine Farm Days
  • Monmouth Fair
  • Northern Maine Fair
  • Ossipee Valley Fair
  • ​Union Fair & Maine Wild Blueberry Festival
  • ​Topsham Fair
  • ​Washington County Fair
  • Waterford World's Fair
  • Windsor Fair

Fairs still evaluating the situation for this year include:

  • Blue Hill Fair
  • Cumberland Fair
  • Farmington Fair​
  • Oxford County Fair
  • Piscataquis Valley Fair
  • Pittston Fair
  • Skowhegan Fair
  • Springfield Fair

The status of Maine's fairs is updated on the Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs website.