POMONA (CNS) - The 2020 L.A. County Fair, which was scheduled for Sept. 4-27, was canceled Thursday due to the coronavirus pandemic, marking the first full cancellation of the event since World War II.

"My heart is heavy, for our guests who come out to make memories, our vendors who rely on the fair circuit for their income and our employees who work so hard all year long to create this special event,'' Fairplex President/CEO Miguel Santana said in a statement.

What You Need To Know


  • Fair was canceled due to coronavirus pandemic

  • The last time if was canceled was 1942-47 for WWII

  • Fair annually attracts over 1 million visitors

  • Economic impact of cancellation is roughly $328 million

"The L.A. County Fair is an iconic event that celebrate the best of Southern California. It is beloved by many. But we had to take into consideration the health and safety of everyone.''

The fair will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2022. According to organizers, the last time the fair was canceled was for World War II from 1942-47. The fair closed for one day on Sept. 11, 2001, following that day's terrorist attacks.

The fair attracts more than 1 million visitors during its 19-day run, and organizers said it has an economic impact of roughly $328 million for the county.

"Like many of you, I grew up eagerly anticipating each year's opening of the L.A. County Fair, and I cherish my family memories of this special yearly event,'' county Supervisor Hilda Solis said. "Unfortunately, we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel the L.A. County Fair due to our current public health crisis. We must make these short-term sacrifices to preserve the health of the people we love. We do this to protect our communities. I am certain that once we get through this challenging time, we will come back stronger and even more appreciative of the things we love and hold dear.''

Related Stories