INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Indiana State Fair Commission and the Indiana State Fair Board announced on Thursday the traditional Indiana State Fair will not happen in 2020. The decision was made due to the impact of COVID-19.
“Unfortunately, key elements including vendors and partners of the fair began falling off and so we pivoted, and found a way to still serve our communities,” said Brad Chambers, Indiana State Fair Commission Chairman.
“We’ve spent months working through options that would allow us to host the fair,’ said Cindy Hoye, Executive Director of the Indiana State Fair Commission. “Agriculture and youth are the heartbeat of the Indiana State Fair, so we are proud to honor our 4-H members with a version of the fair experience that allows Indiana’s youth to be recognized for their dedication and hard work.”
The board did announce a modified Indiana State Fair 4-H Livestock Show with additional activities that will be held on the fairgrounds in August. In 2019, the fair reportedly had 879,000 people attend.