SMETHPORT — The McKean County Fair Association met Thursday and decided to postpone the 115th annual McKean County Fair until 2021.
The decision made by the board of directors came after many discussions surrounding the ongoing uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and the social gathering restrictions implemented by the state for counties in the green phase.
“This is not a decision that was taken lightly,” said board president Kristina Francis. “Many of our board members have been involved with the fair their entire lives, some even second and third generation, so this was a difficult decision for us to make. However, the board felt that this was the best decision to ensure the health and safety of our exhibitors, volunteers, vendors and attendees.”
As a silver lining to this announcement, Francis went on to note, “We are already in the process of planning for 2021 and intend to use the time during this off-year to focus on fundraising and making improvements to the grounds. We want to make the next fair better than the last, so having extra time to plan will help up move in that direction.”
The 115th annual McKean County Fair is scheduled for Aug. 16-21, 2021.
Francis added a final note, “The board of directors is appreciative of the community’s understanding and ongoing support of the McKean County Fair. We also want to take this time to encourage the support of local businesses and organizations through this difficult time. We are truly grateful and cannot wait to see you next year.”
