Fans of the Beach Boys know the phrase “Endless summer,” a celebratory term recognizing the joys of sunshine, parties, dancing, cookouts, soft breezes, friends and music. But summer does end and for Central New York, every summer culminates in the fabulous New York State Fair. Every summer that is, except this one.
Apparently we can have bowling, restaurants, malls, parks, beaches and some team sports with health clubs on the verge of joining the list. But Andy Cuomo has decided that we can’t have a State Fair, not even a radically modified, carefully limited, strictly regulated State Fair. It’s part of the Gov’s stranglehold on the reopening of the New York State economy and the infuriating, silent acceptance of his dictates by other elected officials.
Let’s recognize County Executive Ryan McMahon for protesting some of Cuomo’s decisions while keeping a balanced approach and prioritizing the wellness of his constituents. You have to wonder if he would have endorsed opening of the expanded, 18-day State Fair, which was scheduled to run Aug. 21 through Sep. 7. Recent data has supported loosening of regulations in support of both economic recovery and social normalcy.
As previously reported here on State Fair Hound, the state of Delaware bucked the trend and opened its State Fair for business on July 23. Since the closing of Delaware’s 10-day Fair on Aug. 1, feedback on how it went has been scant. From what information is available on the web, that event, which wrapped up on Aug.1, got mostly positive reviews, despite having been modified from its usual format.
Sometimes you have to take a shot.
Delaware’s Fair is considerably smaller than New York’s in terms of acreage, attendance and running length, but the coastal state’s model could have been followed here. They spaced out patrons, mandated mask-wearing in most places and cleaned and sanitized rigorously.
It would have been a massive job to hold the New York State Fair under such guidelines, but The Hound still thinks it was possible.
Meanwhile, we’re awaiting word from the Fair on smaller events to be held on order to give Fair fans a taste of their favorite event. So far, there have been drive-up food sales and big-screen movies or concerts. That’s small consolation. There could be more, so let’s see what comes along. Whatever it is won’t be enough in a summer that never really started.
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