![The 174-year-old Canfield Fair will not open to the public this year. The fair is already making plans to celebrate the 175th edition next summer [Jayson Shenk / FLICKR/CREATIVE COMMONS]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6054624/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1824x1656+0+0/resize/840x762!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2020%2F07%2F888621415_1760819718.jpg)
One of the largest county fairs in the state of the Ohio has essentially been canceled. The Canfield Fair, Mahoning County’s annual event that usually occurs over the Labor Day weekend, will not open to the public. Only the Junior Fair, that includes 4-H and other youth activities, will operate.
The Canfield Fair typically draws some 300,000 visitors.
George Roman, who runs concessions and grandstand entertainment at the fair, said the restrictions on capacity in the grandstand and other requirements related to keeping people safe from the coronavirus, created overwhelming challenges.
Canfield Fair organizers say the road blocks to opening proved insurmountable.
“There were just too many roadblocks being thrown in here at the last minute, and it’s just one of those things we had to make a decision on pretty quick before we got closer to the fair,” he said.
Roman said the decision had to be made so vendors and others who planned to attend the Fair could adjust their schedules.
Junior Fair members and their immediate family members will be able to participate in programs and events over Labor Day weekend. They’ll have to sign a waiver related to COVID-19.
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