FAIRLEA, W.Va. — When Kelly Tuckwiller Collins rolled into her office at the State Fairgrounds in Greenbrier County Wednesday morning the fair’s marquee flashed “365 Days until the Fair.” The CEO of the State Fair of West Virginia admitted it was a heart breaker since it should have been the start of The State Fair of West Virginia 2020.
“Today would have been our final set up day. Our vendors would be here, the rides would be getting inspected and livestock would be rolling into the gate. It’s so sad to think about what could have been this year and what actually happened this year. I know we’re not the only ones disappointed,” Collins said.
Fair Board members reluctantly cancelled the 2020 event in June amid fears about Covid 19 and a near impossible task of adhering to health safety guidelines. After all, the State Fair is an event which treasurers big crowds. The decision was a blow to many. Some vendors and non-profit groups lost big since their budget is usually based on the proceeds they reap from fair week.
The Fair has tried to help out where possible. A “Taste of the Fair” event is happening through the summer and fall with longtime vendors serving up fair food favorites to the public on a limited basis. This weekend a Junior Livestock Show will be held on the grounds, although closed to the public. Collins said it was a chance for the 4-H and FFA students to finish up projects on which they worked so hard.
About all Collins and her team can do now is what the sign says, look forward to 2021. However, she admitted even that’s not as easy as it may sound.
We’ll see you August 13-21, 2021!#sfwv21 #fairstrong pic.twitter.com/wdXzixgpVC
— State Fair of West Virginia (@SFWV) June 18, 2020
“When we got to March and heard about Covid 19, nobody dreamed it would be affecting us in August but here we are. When we look to 2021, we have to think it’s still probably not going to be a normal fair,” she said.
She anticipated there are changes which will be required for safety precautions and social distancing, even for next year’s event. Collins said what those changes may be is still not known and it’s hard to make decisions now about an event which is a year away under present circumstances.
One thing they have done is to start booking entertainment. The Fair is know for big time acts. Only one of the acts from 2020 was able to reschedule. Collins said the three biggest acts for this year had conflicts during next year’s fair week.
“We have to think there’s going to be some changes we’re going to have to make and it’s really hard to think that far in advance, but we have already started booking concerts,” she said.