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Cumming Country Fair & Festival canceled amid coronavirus pandemic
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The scene on the first day of the 2019 Cumming Country Fair & Festival on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019. - photo by Brian Paglia

For the first time in 25 years, the city of Cumming will not hold its annual Cumming Country Fair & Festival.

The city announced on Tuesday that it has canceled the October event, saying that it is not viable given the state of the coronavirus pandemic in Georgia and the event's large attendance numbers. 

“This was, of course, a very tough decision to make because we know how much the Cumming Country Fair & Festival is loved by our community,” Mayor Troy Brumbalow said in a statement. “But given the ongoing public health situation surrounding COVID-19, we simply could not in good conscience hold this large-scale event this year.”

The event, which was scheduled for Oct. 8-18 at the Cumming Fairgrounds, attracts people from around North Georgia to enjoy the food, rides, and attractions. Last year's fair set records for attendance (227,000) and gross revenue ($1.3 million).

Brumbalow said attendance would have to be limited to 25% capacity to comply with Gov. Brian Kemp's social distancing orders meant to mitigate the spread of the virus, but the event's costs with the ride vendor, Drew Expositions, would remain, making it a financial burden on the city.

"Economically, safety-wise -- on every front it just doesn't work unfortunately," Brumbalow told the Forsyth County News.

Other upcoming events at the Fairgrounds are still scheduled, including the IPRA World Championship Rodeo during Labor Day weekend and House of Four Scythes haunted attraction in October. Both are adjusting their events by either limiting attendance or implementing measures to ensure social distancing is possible.

While the loss of the fair will be significant, the city is working to create something to fill the void: a fair food "take-away service."

Vendors would set up in the Fairgrounds during the same weekend nights that the event would have been held, and patrons could walk up and order food while social distancing or order from their vehicles and have their food delivered to them.

The city hopes it will be some consolation to residents for losing the regular fair experience.

“We hope conditions will be in place by fall of 2021 which will allow the Cumming Country Fair & Festival to return and be our biggest and best fair to date,” Brumbalow said.