ESCANABA, MI-- This year’s Upper Peninsula State Fair is canceled.
The Fair Authority made the decision Tuesday. Officials say at the heart of the decision was the state’s current crowd size restrictions, which would vastly limit the authority’s ability to provide the experience fairgoers are used to.
Carnival and midway operator Skerbeck Entertainment Group was notified by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs that amusement rides aren’t permitted at this time.
The Fair Authority and Delta County Chamber of Commerce worked to create safety plans for fairgoers and conducted risk assessments. The groups agreed if the state’s crowd size restrictions were increased the fair could be held.
Authority Chair Phyllis French says while canceling the fair is heartbreaking, it’s the right decision for the safety of the public and the future viability of the fair.
