Ventura County Fair canceled for first time since WWII due to COVID-19 pandemic

VENTURA, Calif. - The Ventura County Fairgrounds Board of Directors voted unanimously on Monday to cancel the 2020 Ventura County Fair.

The decision comes amid the coronavirus pandemic, as stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines are in place. The board said the decision was made to "protect guests, vendors, staff and others during the COVID-19 crisis."

The fair was scheduled to kick off on July 31. It welcomes nearly 300,000 visitors each year, according to the board of directors.

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The fair has been taking place annually in Ventura since 1875, except during WWII when the fairgrounds were commandeered by the United States military to protect the west coast.

"We are already looking forward to welcoming everybody back in 2021 when we will resume the 145th Ventura County Fair," said Barbara Quaid, Fair CEO. "We encourage our Ventura County neighbors and friends to continue adhering to all public health guidelines so that we can all come together again in 2021.”

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