Coronavirus Cancels 2020 Topsfield Fair

TOPSFIELD, MA — The 2020 Topsfield Fair has been canceled, marking just the third time in the fair's history it will not be held.

The Essex Agricultural Society, the fair's organizer, said Wednesday it was canceling the 2020 Topsfield Fair over coronavirus concerns. The decision comes a month after organizers said they were still moving forward with plans for the 2020 fair, even as other fairs scheduled for this fall announce plans to cancel.

"We understand the impact of this decision for small businesses, family farms, competitors, and exhibitors and the disappointment of hundreds of thousands of people who look forward to the Topsfield Fair each year," James O’Brien, general manager of the Topsfield Fair, said in a statement. "However, the safety and health of our community has to be our top priority and due to the current restrictions hosting the Topsfield Fair this year is impossible."

The Topsfield Fair, which drew 38,000 people during last year's opening weekend, had been scheduled to run October 2 through 12. The fair was not held in 1943, 1944 and 1945 during World War II. It was also canceled in 1918 during the Spanish flu pandemic.

Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).