2020 Ventura County Fair canceled

VENTURA, Calif. - The 2020 Ventura County Fair has been canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ventura County Fairgrounds Board of Directors voted unanimously to cancel the 2020 fair.

The fair was scheduled to kick off on July 31.

The decision was made in an effort to protects visitors, staff and vendors during the current shelter-at-home and physical distancing guidelines.

The Board of Directors said they considered the guidance and recommendations from local and state health agencies regarding mass gatherings.

“Every year thousands of happy faces come through the fair gates to enjoy the County’s most timeless tradition,” said Ventura County Fair CEO Barbara Quaid in a news release. “It is because of those smiling faces that we are completely comfortable with this decision. We are already looking forward to welcoming everybody back in 2021 when we will resume the 145th Ventura County Fair.”

The Ventura County Fair has been taking place in Ventura since 1875, stopping briefly during WWII when the military commandeered the fairgrounds. Nearly 300,000 people visit the fair every year, according to the board of directors.

Quaid says the Ventura County Fairgrounds is on standby to be used for emergency operations and they are working in other ways to lend a hand.

"We’ve partnered with Food Share to serve as a food distribution site and will continue looking for ways that we may serve the community,” Quaid said.

Quaid said the fairgrounds will begin hosting and planning future events once it has been deemed safe to do so. In the meantime, the Board of Directors is encouraging Ventura County residents to listen to the guidance of local public health officials.

For more information visit www.venturacountyfair.org or call 805-648-3376.