SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Fair is still on for September, however, officials are monitoring the situation surrounding COVID-19 and will adapt as necessary.
“We are just working on modifying everything and how it pertains to the pandemic and public safety,” said Annie Hemmesch, Utah State Fair director of marketing. “What that looks like right now, we don’t have an exact answer, but there’s a bunch of committees from carnival rides to fair corporations that are working together to build what could be possible.”
Fair officials decided to send out a news release announcing that the events are still happening to clarify that the Utah State Fair is not the same as the Utah County Fair, she said. Utah County commissioners announced May 6 that the Utah County Fair will not be held. A day earlier, Provo’s Freedom Festival organizers announced this year’s Fourth of July summer event is canceled.
The pandemic also put the brakes on the Days of ’47 celebration, Bountiful Handcart Days and the Deseret News Marathon, as well as Salt Lake’s annual arts festival in June. Organizers for Ogden Pioneer Days, another major July event, have yet to reach a decision on whether it will be held.
The state fair runs Sept. 10-20 at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City.
Hemmesch said they’ve already secured vendors, talent, artists — everything that the fair has always had — and organizers are “being very cautious with what is appropriate.” Decisions to implement best practices will be made in tandem with public officials and health professionals.
“We aren’t quite sure what that will look like in September as that changes day to day, but as of now we have two bands that have committed, and a possible third that is on the way,” she said.
This will be the 165th year of the Utah State Fair.