2020 Westmoreland Fair Canceled
WESTMORELAND Co., Pa. (KDKA) -- The 2020 Westmoreland Fair has been canceled.
In a Facebook post late Monday night, the Westmoreland Fair announced the news.
In the post, they issued the following statement:
Loyal Friends of the Westmoreland Fair,
With heavy hearts and much deliberation, the Board has unanimously agreed to cancel the 2020 Westmoreland Fair. This decision was not made lightly, primarily hinging on the following factors: lack of clarity from state government, plus their restrictions, loss of sponsors and vendors, the absence of the carnival, insurance matters, the health and safety of everyone on the grounds, and financial risk.
Please understand this was a decision we did not want to make, but it had to be made nonetheless. In the long-run, it seemed more logical to concentrate efforts on better days, so plans are already in the works for the 2021 Westmoreland Fair, August 20-28. Thanks to all our visitors, volunteers, sponsors, and everyone who had made us an ongoing success. We miss you and are happily awaiting what the future holds for all of us.
The Fair announced new dates for Aug. 20 to Aug. 28 in the summer of 2021.
The fair averages about 60,000 visitors every year, which is not surprising considering that the main industry in the county and state is agriculture.
Agriculture deals are cut at the fair and farm equipment is sold.
"Most of the vendors don't want to take a chance and come up to the fair. And with a limit of 250 people, they don't want to pay to set up and make no money. Our insurance company said, 'Yes, we will insure you as a regular fair but not against the pandemic,'" said Craig Lash, the fair's president.
But the fair is something more for Lash, who's family has been tilling the field and raising cattle for more than 200 years.
"This is our only chance to congregate as agriculture," Lash said.