The Ohio State Fair — known for its life-sized butter cows, deep-fried delicacies, carnival rides, pig races, petting zoos, farmers, craft competitions and all other manner of wholesome American entertainment — has been canceled for this year. At least the in-person version.
Slated to take place July 29-Aug. 9 at the Ohio Expo Center and fairgrounds in Columbus, the fair announced today on Facebook that the event will be going on hiatus this year, and will instead "celebrate agriculture and our great state at a distance, with a collection of educational digital content and sharing some of your favorite memories on social media."
The post says more info on the digital event will be available in the coming weeks.
But, fun fact, this is not the first time the state fair has been canceled because of disease.
According to the fair's history page, "The first Ohio State Fair was planned for September 1849, but an outbreak of Asiatic cholera forced the cancellation of those plans. The following year, later dates were set to lessen the risk of cholera. Even so, Darius Lapham, the superintendent of the grounds, died of the disease just a few weeks before the opening date."
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