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State Fair On Schedule To Open Late August, But Amid Pandemic Nothing Is Certain

By News Jun 5, 2020 | 3:29 PM

Despite concerns surrounding COVID-19, the Nebraska State Fair is on schedule to open August 28th.

Board Chair Beth Smith told KLIN News that the board’s Interim Director  Jaime Parr has been working vigorously to gather information to make the fair as safe as possible.

“Right now we are looking at around the first part of July to make our final decision on how we might move forward for 2020 as we look at these different scenarios,” said Smith.

Smith said that while everyone is working on producing some version of the fair, things are complicated by the fact Hall County is still in Phase I of reopening.

“Things seem to change week by week with this,” said Smith. “We’re trying to look at all of our different options, whether it’s wearing masks, whether is reducing the capacity at the fair, so, there are a lot of things we have to look at.”

Smith said that while the fair’s opening day is scheduled, whether that date is met, or whether or not the fair happens at all,  depends on what County health officials decide is appropriate and what Health Measures are in place at the time.

“First and foremost is the safety of our fairgoers,” said Smith. “That’s our biggest concern and that’s what we’ll be working around.”

The Fair Board’s full statement can be found below:

 

Safety remains the top priority, planning continues for State Fair

 

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (June 5, 2020) – The Nebraska State Fair is on schedule for August 28 – September 7, 2020.  While we are all facing many uncertainties, our team is optimistic and continuing to prepare and plan.  The safety and well-being of our guests, participants, partners, sponsors and community always comes first, so we are closely following the directives of local and national health agencies: Central District Health Department, Department of Agriculture, the City of Grand Island, Hall County, and the Nebraska Governor’s Office. 

On Monday, the State Fair Administration Office reopened for necessary foot traffic, including the Nebraska Lottery Claim center, which operates Monday – Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed noon – 1 p.m.).  Wearing masks is currently required inside the State Fair facilities whenever six-foot distancing cannot be maintained.  

We are grateful for the community’s patience and support, and we look forward to being part of Nebraska’s healing. For more information on the state’s largest event, visit statefair.org.

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ABOUT NEBRASKA STATE FAIR

Nebraska State Fair is an annual 11-day event held in late August ending on Labor Day, at Fonner Park, in Grand Island, Nebraska. Celebrating 151 years of entertaining families, the State Fair is home to the finest facilities in the country, hosting competitive livestock and horse shows, a milking parlor and birthing pavilion, a gift shop and a large indoor shopping experience. Featuring the state’s largest carnival, guests will find more than 60 food stands, 8,000 competitive exhibits and a wide variety of equine shows and motor sports.