State Fair Canceled for 2020

2020 has played exactly ZERO games in the first half, and it looks like things aren’t letting up in the second half, as it’s been announced that the State Fair of Texas has been canceled for this year.

It may feel like the world is crashing down, but this isn’t the first time the fair has been canceled, but it does take major world events to stop the show. The last time the State Fair of Texas kept its doors closed was during World War II (19-42-1945). Before that, fairs were canceled due to planning for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition and 1937 Pan American Exposition at Fair Park (1935-1937) and World War I (1918). 

“With a heavy heart, we are announcing that the State Fair of Texas will not open for the 2020 season,” a statement on their website reads. “We believe the spirit of the Lone Star state lies in every Texan’s ability to care and look out for their neighbor and it is with this in mind, we have decided to keep our guests, staff, and partners safe and healthy during these uncertain times. Click the button below to find out more information about this news, including refund information for those who have already purchased a ticket. We look forward to giving y’all a great big Howdy in 2021.”

This means there will be no cattle auctions this year, no smorgasbord of fried treats, and so much more. The absence of the annual event will most likely deal a significant blow to the North Texas economy. The fair regularly welcomes more than two million people over the course of the festivities, and that crowd’s absence will be felt beyond the fairgrounds. It’s possible that there may still be a hint of light in these dark times with the possibility of traditions like the Grambling/Prairie View game could still happen.

“The NCAA, respective conferences, and participating universities – the University of Texas & University of Oklahoma and Prairie View A&M University & Grambling State University – will be in charge of making decisions regarding the football games that occur at Cotton Bowl Stadium during this unprecedented time of COVID-19,” the fair’s statement continued. “Should football be played this fall, the schools will be playing in the Cotton Bowl as scheduled, despite the cancellation of the 2020 State Fair.”

As it stands now, the State Fair of Texas is scheduled to return in 2021, and run Friday, September 24 through Sunday, October 17 in historic Fair Park — hopefully bigger and better than ever.