Arts & Entertainment
LA County Fair Canceled For First Time Since WWII
The annual tradition typically dras more than a million visitors and generates roughly $328 million for the county.
POMONA , CA — The Los Angeles County fair has become the second major Southland tradition to fall victim to the coronavirus Thursday as officials announced the cancellation of the fair for the first time since World War II.
The 2020 L.A. County Fair was scheduled for Sept. 4-27 and it typically attracts more than a million visitors every year. Much like the Hollywood Bowl, which cancelled its iconic summer season this week, the cancellation of the fair is a potent symbol of the change wrought by the pandemic.
"My heart is heavy, for our guests who come out to make memories, our vendors who rely on the fair circuit for their income and our employees who work so hard all year long to create this special event," Fairplex President/CEO Miguel Santana said in a statement. "The L.A. County Fair is an iconic event that celebrate the best of Southern California. It is beloved by many. But we had to take into consideration the health and safety of everyone."
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The fair will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2022. According to organizers, the last time the fair was canceled was for World War II from 1942- 47. The fair closed for one day on Sept. 11, 2001, following that day's terrorist attacks.
Fair organizers said the event has an economic impact of roughly $328 million for the county during its 19-day run,.
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"Like many of you, I grew up eagerly anticipating each year's opening of the L.A. County Fair, and I cherish my family memories of this special yearly event," county Supervisor Hilda Solis said. "Unfortunately, we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel the L.A. County Fair due to our current public health crisis. We must make these short-term sacrifices to preserve the health of the people we love. We do this to protect our communities. I am certain that once we get through this challenging time, we will come back stronger and even more appreciative of the things we love and hold dear."
City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.
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