COLUMBUS, Ohio – First the good news: state fairs will be held this year in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Kentucky and Michigan.

Now the bad news: the 2021 Ohio State Fair will be closed to the public because of coronavirus and financial concerns.

The Ohio Expositions Commission made the decision last week not to publicly open the fair for a second straight year because of ongoing concerns about spreading the coronavirus, the financial cost of maintaining health safeguards and the lasting impacts on the fair in the long term.

In 2019, the Ohio State Fair drew more than 900,000 to its 11-day event. In 2020, the fair was among many state fairs across the nation that canceled due to COVID-19. The Ohio State Fair annually contributes approximately $69 million to the state’s economy.

Virgil Strickler, the fair’s longtime general manager, said that “even though vaccination rates are improving significantly in Ohio, the fight against the pandemic is still ongoing.

“Where we are today in this battle makes it challenging to plan a large-scale entertainment event, not knowing where we will be, or what Ohio will look like in late July,” Strickler said. “I wish we had a crystal ball, but we don’t. As such, the safest decision is to greatly limit the traditional aspects of the Ohio State Fair, sticking to our roots in agriculture. While this is a difficult decision, we feel it is the best path to protect the long-term viability of the Ohio State Fair, as well as the safety of those involved by limiting the scope significantly.”

Strickler noted that if a fair were held this year, it would likely be financially devastating as attendance would likely be far lower than usual and seating capacities at events would have to be reduced.

“Although vaccination rates are improving significantly each day, Ohio continues to fight the battle against COVID-19,” Strickler said. “Where we are today in this battle makes it challenging not knowing what Ohio will look like in late July.”

While the fair is closed to the general public, competitions will still be held this summer for exhibitors, their families and guests. There will be a focus on agricultural and educational competitions for exhibitors, their families and guests. This will include junior fair skill-a-thons, youth and junior livestock competitions, along with educational project judging for non-livestock competitions, such as 4-H.

This year’s fair will include the Outstanding Market Exhibitor programs and a modified Sale of Champions. The status of the open shows for livestock will be determined by leaders within the individual species. The livestock competitions are expected to take place July 19-Aug. 8. The deadline for exhibitors to enter livestock competitions will be June 20.

The Ohio State Fair’s announcement comes just a few weeks after Gov. Mike DeWine announced that his administration’s ban on county fairs and other mass gatherings would be lifted so long as visitors take proper coronavirus precautions, such as wearing masks and remaining in small groups that remain apart from each other.

DeWine said he still anticipated that all county and independent fairs will be able to fully open this year. But the state fair, he said, is “unique because of its size and sources of revenue. I’m comfortable with the decision that state fair officials made. My administration will ask state lawmakers to allow some of the funding provided under the latest federal stimulus package to help subsidize the fair.”

Fair officials stated that they expect to hold the 2022 Ohio State Fair with rides, concerts, entertainment, live music, food vendors and shopping.