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Western Fair District cancels events until at least June 2021

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Western Fair District has cancelled its lineup of events next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Citing rising virus case counts, provincial measures to curb its spread and the continued shutdown of the Canada-U.S. border, the Western Fair Association is calling off its upcoming season, it said Tuesday.

Cancelled shows include the London Wine and Food Show, London Farm Show, National Poultry Show, Speed and Custom Show, Home and Outdoor Show and London Beer and BBQ Show.

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The move comes after the association’s annual Western Fair, an end-of-summer staple in Southwestern Ontario, was nixed this year amid the virus crisis.

“The decision to cancel our owned and operated shows through the end of June reflects the current realities we are individually and collectively dealing with,” association chief executive Reg Ash said in a release.

“The series of winter and spring events that our communities have supported for many years, and in some instances, decades, are taking a break in 2021 for the health and safety of those very communities. We look forward to celebrating together when conditions permit.”

The decision followed extensive discussion, surveys and exploration of safe ways to deliver shows, the association said.

A COVID-19 field hospital, so far unused, has occupied the Western Fair District’s Agriplex since April and is expected to remain there until year’s end.

Organizers of the London Home Builders’ Association’s Lifestyle Home Show, London RV Show and London Boat Show also cancelled their events at the fair district next year, the association said.

A revamped digital offering for 2021 will include a new video production space to host speakers and live demonstrations aimed at promoting a wide variety of topics, the association said.

“Our dedicated and passionate team is expanding on the successes of our earlier virtual content and has been working on ways to repackage and deliver some of our perennial favourites while maintaining our commitment to agri-food and education,” Ash said.


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