Lions Club Cancels 2020 Edmonson County Fair Due To Virus Regulations

First Fair Cancellation In 65-Year History of Event

Edmonson Voice file photo of the Edmonson County Fairgrounds.

Darren Doyle, story and photo:
For the first time in the 65-year history of the Edmonson County Lions Club Fair, there will be no fair this year.

The Edmonson County Lions Club, who has brought the enduring event to the fairgrounds annually since 1955, made the decision at their monthly meeting, which was held last night. Lions Club President Jimmie Duvall spoke with the Edmonson Voice about the difficult decision.

"The health department is requiring too many regulations for us to be able to bring the fair to the county this year," he said. "We had already planned on bringing a truck and tractor pull, rodeo, demolition derby, a mud bog, and of course our beauty pageants for this year's fair, but there are too many mandates in place for us to be able to do that."

Duvall said some of the requirements would be allowing only two spectators per beauty contestant, with a requirement for the Lions Club to obtain phone numbers and other contact information for those that would attend, and that the Lions Club would be responsible for keeping all attendees 6 feet apart at events.

"This is the first time we've ever had to cancel the fair," an emotional Duvall said. "There's more to this than what most people know. We have so many that look forward to this every year: those that grow vegetables and participate in our exhibit barns, those who work to put it on, and all the kids that come during school day after the parade."

Duvall said the parade is also cancelled. He mentioned that there is a possibility that perhaps a demolition derby or a mud bog could be scheduled later in the year, but that depends on the situation at that time, and obviously any regulations that would be required.

"It's just a bad time right now," he said. "People aren't sure what to do, what to expect. We feel like we're letting folks down, but we have no choice under the circumstances. It's just a bad time."