By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The Pemberville Free Fair has outlived many festivals. It goes on no matter the weather, staffed with generations of dedicated volunteers.
But it is being halted this year for the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2020 fair board announced this evening that the show would not go on this year.
But organizers want the public to understand this is simply a pause in Pemberville’s beloved tradition.
“I’ve had better days,” said Todd Sheets, who is in charge of public relations for the fair, which was scheduled for Aug. 19 to 22.
According to Sheets, the board made this difficult decision after much consideration.
“The health and safety of all involved with the Pemberville Free Fair is our first priority.”
With the uncertain times, the fair board felt that maintaining the social distancing and implementation of suggested safety provisions proved to be too difficult.
“It would be almost impossible,” Sheet said, to provide the necessary safety for the fair’s festivities – from two parades and carnival rides, to the greased pig contest and the tug-of-war.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine hasn’t ordered that big summertime events be canceled – yet.
“They’re not saying you can’t have a fair,” Sheets said. But it remains unknown how many people would feel safe attending, and how social distancing and disinfecting could be done.
This isn’t the first time the fair has stepped aside for worldwide crises. While the fair celebrated 75 years in 2019, those were not consecutive years.
“This is not the first bump in the road for the fair,” Sheets said.
“The Pemberville Free Fair has endured setbacks in the past (war era years) and has rebounded due to the commitment of community and the volunteers who hold this annual summer tradition dear,” he said. “We are hoping for this continued commitment and spirit of community as we look to the future.”
The Pemberville Fair Board will be contacting sponsors, vendors and entertainers concerning refunds and contracts.
“We wanted to make the decision before we got too far along with contracts,” Sheets said.
The annual tradition isn’t dead – just on hold.
“Hopefully we can come back stronger in 2021,” Sheets said.
The fair board is being optimistic about the event’s comeback next year – asking that people set aside the dates of Aug. 18 to 21 for the 76th Pemberville Free Fair. Updates will be posted on the fair’s website – pembervillefair.org or Pemberville Free Fair Facebook page.
