For the first time since the Second World War, the Orillia Fall Fair has been cancelled.
The Orillia and District Agricultural Society (ODAS) board voted Wednesday to call off the 170th annual event, which was scheduled to take place Sept. 11-13 at ODAS Park, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is an extremely sad day,” said ODAS president Chad Cooke. “It has a very long history. It’s definitely a hard day and a decision that was not made lightly.”
He said he feels sorry for the vendors and the approximately 8,000 visitors who come through the gates every year.
“We love seeing all the smiling faces, and this year, more than ever, people need something fun and some good news in their lives,” he said.
Safety is the main concern, and that was the reason for cancelling.
Uncertainty about provincial restrictions on gatherings was also a factor, Cooke said, adding he thinks it’s unlikely such a large event would be allowed by the fall.
“A lot of the fall fairs in our area have already been cancelled,” he said. “We want to make sure it’s safe.”
Get ready for a party in 2021, though, when the fair celebrates two years in one weekend to make up for this year’s loss.
“We’ll be back next year bigger and better than ever,” Cooke said.