North Idaho State Fair canceled

The growing number of COVID-19 cases has led to widespread cancelations of community events, continuing Tuesday with the cancelation of the North Idaho State Fair and Gem State Stampede, after a strong recommendation from local health officials not to hold the event.

Staff and the Fair Board reportedly consulted with local health officials and authorities weekly over the last three months to create a plan to move forward with the fair. Modified fair plans were “well underway,” until last week, when Idaho did not move on from stage four of Gov. Brad Little’s Idaho Rebounds plan.

Panhandle Health District strongly recommended that the fair not go on, according to a news release.

The Fair Board decidedly unanimously to cancel the fair, which was previously scheduled for Aug 26-30, and search for options to allow 4-H youth to complete their projects.

Kootenai County Commissioners voted in a 2-1 decision to support the North Idaho Fair Board in discontinuing preparations for the fair.

“Safety of our fair family and community, as well as the financial future of the fair, were our top priorities in coming to this incredibly heartbreaking decision,” Alexcia Jordan, General Manager of the North Idaho State Fair and Gem State Stampede, said in a news release.

Last year, the North Idaho Fair brought over 97,000 visitors from around the region in just five days. An even larger turnout was expected this year, due to the cancelation of Spokane’s fair and many local July 4 celebrations, as well as excitement to exit COVID-19 quarantine.

The North Idaho State Fair is not county-funded. Less than four percent of the annual budget comes from tax dollars, which means the Fair Board relies heavily on a strong turnout each year, as well as other event rentals throughout the year. Due to COVID-19, however, no events were held from mid March to late June.

The preparation and investment needed to put on the fair would have imposed a financial risk of over $800,000. If the event were to be canceled later in the summer, or if Idaho moved back to stage three in the coming weeks, the future of the fair would have been jeapordized. The decision to cancel now was a conservative move to help secure next year’s fair, which is already scheduled for Aug. 25-29, 2021.

“Our primary considerations must be protecting both the heritage and the financial health of the Fairgrounds,” County Commissioner Chris Fillios said. “It would not be fiscally or ethically responsible to continue committing resources for the Fair, knowing that a last-minute cancellation could irreparably damage their long-term financial stability. The Board of Commissioners has every confidence in our Fair Board and Staff. We know this has been a difficult decision for them and look forward to seeing them come back bigger and better than ever next year.”

Plans for 4-H programming will be sent to participating families in the coming days. All tickets already purchased for the 2020 North Idaho State Fair, carnival, and grandstand event will be refunded in the next two weeks.

For any additional questions about ticket refunds, the public can contact the Fair Board office after July 15 at (208) 765-4969.