Bid farewell to 2020 Rochester Fair: see you next year!

UPS AND DOWNS: Four young fairgoiers show a myriad of expressions as they get their taste of the Seven Seas amusement ride at the Rochester Fair last year. (Rochester Voice file photo)

ROCHESTER - It was Rochester's "elephant in the room" most of the summer, but it is no more.

The Rochester Fair's Board of Directors officially announced the cancellation of the 2020 rendition on Thursday.

The sad but expected message was made on the fair's Facebook page.

"It is with great reluctance that we announce the cancellation of the 2020 Rochester Fair," the post reads. "We held out hope that the COVID-19 pandemic would somehow be under control enough in the fall but unfortunately that will not be the case."

The fair's Board of Directors said they considered many options including "going back to our roots to put on a two or three day agricultural only event that would showcase local dairy and farm operations, horse, oxen, and tractor pulling, a pig chase, new and antique tractors and farm equipment, etc."

But in the end it was determined that the welfare of staff, volunteers, vendors, and the public was paramount, the board decided.

As late as last month, Rochester Fair board president Nancy Gilbert said she was still holding out hope the fair could still be held in some form.