The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed one of Windsor-Essex's "big three" country fairs.
In a letter posted on the Harrow Fair's official website, fair president Ed Gibbs announced that this year's event, scheduled for Labour Day weekend, has been cancelled due to uncertainty over the pandemic.
"It is with sadness the Board of Directors of Colchester South and Harrow Agricultural Society announce that the 166th presentation of the Harrow Fair will take place Thursday through Sunday of Labour Day Weekend, 2021 and not in 2020 as originally planned," wrote Gibbs.
While Gibbs acknowledged that the decision will have a detrimental impact on vendors, charitable groups, and entertainers, he said that the protection and safety of all participants and volunteers come first. He added that the decision to cancel this year's fair was made since there is no way of knowing what kind of physical distancing guidelines may still be in place.
"It seems unreasonable to ask judges to taste and-or touch hundreds of entries so soon after this experience," wrote Gibbs. "It would be irresponsible to ask our volunteers to attend the gates, collect garbage and coordinate activities in such an uncertain time. Plexiglass barriers, masks and arrows directing the flow of the crowd are just not conducive to a fair atmosphere. There is too much to see and do at the Harrow Fair to put these types of restrictions in place."
There is no word yet on the fate of the other two Windsor-Essex agricultural fairs, the Comber Fair and the Leamington Fair. All three events have been around since before Canadian Confederation.