Here is the letter that I just received from the Unionville Community Fair board:
It is with great sadness that the Board of Directors of the Unionville Community Fair announce the cancellation of the 2020 Fair which had been scheduled for October 2-4.
COVID-19 has taken a significant toll on all of us. Residents in our local communities are suffering from the effects of sudden unemployment, prolonged business closures, and worrying about loved ones who may be ill or be at a higher risk. While we all crave a return to our normal lives, our board realizes that the potential health risk of holding a fair this year is too great for our exhibitors, volunteers, and patrons.
We have been in contact with the PA Association of County Fairs and the PA Department of Agriculture over the past few weeks to seek guidance on how to safely hold a large community event in the middle of a pandemic. This decision was not easy, nor was it taken lightly. It is based on many factors, first and foremost, community safety and fiscal responsibility.
Community Safety
It is the Fair’s civic responsibility as a community event to ensure that the safety of our volunteers and the public is a priority. Based on what we have learned about the virus, large gatherings such as a fair create more opportunities for person-to-person contact and therefore pose a great risk of COVID-19 transmission. Although Chester County will soon move to the yellow phase of the state’s re-opening process, the Governor’s office released on May 27th updated guidance for Pennsylvania counties moving into the green phase indicating that fairs and festivals would not be permitted to have more than 250 people to gather at an event. We also took into consideration the number of people who volunteer at our fair, as they are the backbone of our organization. Many are older adults or persons with pre-existing health conditions who are at greater risk.
Fiscal Responsibility
Fair planning is a year-long venture. It involves many hours of planning and preparation that typically begin immediately after the last fair is over. There are various factors and expenses involved in preparing for an event of this magnitude: advertising, printing catalogs, contest ribbons and awards, sanitation services, construction materials, signage, entertainment contract deposits, licenses, and volunteer staffing. Therefore, it is imperative that we make the decision now before additional effort and funds are expended. We want to ensure that the Unionville Community Fair will be around for years to come. It is our responsibility as a board to be good stewards of the financial resources that we have thanks to the tremendous support of our sponsors, patrons, and exhibitors all these years. We simply cannot in good conscience spend money planning for an event that may not be
safely or legally permitted to take place.
As we stated above, planning for the next Unionville Community Fair never ends. We will use this time to plan great things for next fall. Together, with the help and support from our community and volunteers, Unionville Community Fair will come back better and stronger next year! So mark your calendars for October 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 2021 when we will come back together to enjoy the beer & wine garden, watch the lip sync, scream in the Haunted Tent, take in the homemade exhibits
and dairy show followed by the ever popular milking contest, visit Giggles & Grins with our kids, stroll through the antique car show and be entertained by Dan & Galla! We encourage you to follow us on our Facebook and Instagram pages to find out what is in store for 2021.
Thank you for your understanding and your loyal commitment to the Unionville Community Fair. Please remember to support our local first responders, businesses, and non-profit organizations, as you are able, during this difficult time. We are incredibly grateful for our patrons, volunteers, exhibitors, and concessionaires, and cannot wait to see you next year!
Cindy Wallace, President, and the entire Board of Directors
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