The 2020 Alaska State Fair has been canceled, according to a statement from the Alaska State Fair Board of Directors and CEO issued over the Memorial Day weekend. The statement attributes the cancellation to “continuing uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.” The fair was set to take place August 27 – September 7.
While the board acknowledges that August is a relatively far timetable to cancel an event, they also realize that given the scale of the Alaska State Fair, they must plan for the information they know now, rather than guessing what conditions will be in August. The statement reads: “We have now reached the point that with all the conjecture surrounding mandates and recommendations for mass gatherings of this scale, it just will not be possible to deliver the same experience fairgoers have come to expect from the State’s largest celebration.”
The fairground will continue to host drive-in movies, and starting next week, they will be offering their first food truck event. They also have events planned for later in the year during the holiday season. More information can be found at the fairground’s website.
People who have already paid for fair tickets using credit cards will automatically be refunded and those who paid using another form of payment will be contacted about a refund.