The 2020 California Mid-State Fair has been canceled due to COVID-19, which has led to restrictions on mass gatherings, according to the fair's board.
"The motion as presented as the 16 District Agriculture Association will have to cancel for the 2020 California Mid-State Fair due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the state restrictions that prohibit this mass gathering." That was the motion made Thursday morning, in which all board members unanimously voted yes to cancel the event.
The announcement was made Thursday morning during a special full board meeting via teleconference.
The fair task force had a meeting Friday, May 22, with the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department and San Luis Obispo County Supervisor John Peschong to go over potential new guidelines if the eleven-day fair is able to take place.
During Thursday's meeting, board officials discussed that San Luis Obispo County and state health officials say that without a vaccine and restrictions on group gatherings, the fair would not be possible.
"We did what we could and I don't know what else we can do," one board member said during the meeting.
A board member says that in terms of re-opening, the fair falls into Phase 4.
The financial committee had recommended that the board cancel the fair altogether, but board members wanted more time to discuss it, which is why Thursday's emergency meeting was held.
Although the Mid-State Fair won't happen as planned, the focus remains on what can happen as California continues to re-open. One board member spoke about the potential to have local students showing 4-H animals and how that would look with restrictions in place.
"We are going to sell those animals," the board member said.
The fair was set to take place July 22 to August 1 at the Paso Robles Event Center.
Click here for more on ticket refunds and other cancellation information.
