Fair postpones until 2021

2018 Manchester Community Fair

And another one bites the dust.

As event after event has been canceled this spring and summer due to the COVID19/Coronavirus pandemic, the Manchester Community Fair Board has remained constant in its intention to continue planning the 2020 fair. But at its monthly meeting on July 13, the inevitable decision was announced:

“It is with a heavy heart that we have to write this letter,” says the announcement received by the Mirror on Tuesday morning. “Last night at our monthly meeting, the Manchester Community Fair Board … voted to postpone the 76th Manchester Community Fair (scheduled to be held) August 18-22, 2020.

“The board postponed making these decisions for as long as possible in hopes for some much needed ‘normalcy’ that we all deserve,” the announcement continued. “And we would like to thank everyone who encouraged us for many months.”

The letter continued that without any ability to predict what the pandemic could look like in August, the Board determined that the health and safety of all fairgoers is paramount–including that of exhibitors, guests, vendors, and volunteers. The board tried to take into account all of its partners–including sponsors, vendors, the carnival, nonprofit groups who provide a service to the fair for their fundraising, the emergency management team, and  grounds and grandstand entertainment. Making such a decision affects many more people than just exhibitors and guests of the fair. In addition, the Board also intends to remain fiscally responsible for the future of the fair as much as possible. “Waiting any longer to make a decision would be potentially more damaging,” they said.

“After much deliberation and agonizing over the situation, the board finally decided to postpone this year’s event. This decision was not made lightly and one we did not want to make; but given the current status of Governor Whitmer’s Safe Start Plan, Executive Orders, and the State of Michigan’s current crowd size restrictions that would vastly limit our ability to provide the same familiar experience that fairgoers are used to, we had no other option. In addition the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) currently are not permitting amusement devices to operate. All these obstacles and restrictions has made it so holding a traditional in-person Fair will not be feasible,” the letter concluded.

Fair Board President Steve Harvey said on Tuesday that students raising livestock were still looking at options for their animals. The livestock clubs have been a mainstay of the Fair for many years and have supported hundreds of young people’s college funds as they raised and sold their cattle, pigs, and sheep at the fair.

While admittedly the decision was a difficult one to make, the Board indicated that “knowing that we did everything we could lessens the bitter reality.”

The board would like to thank everyone for their support through these trying times and looks forward to seeing everyone at the Manchester Community Fair in August 2021.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.