TOLEDO, Ohio — County fair season is right around the corner, but for some counties, the familiar fragrance of funnel cakes will not be wafting through the air this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some fairs have decided to persevere, however, and yet more are still assessing the situation and will make a decision later.
The Ohio Fair Managers Association is asking the public to be patient, as fair boards are being careful and deliberate when it comes to deciding on whether to go forward with a full fair, conducting a junior fair (4-H), or canceling altogether.
As of June 8, here is what we know as far as which county is going forward, which county is canceled and which county has not announced definite plans. We'll update this story as we learn more county fair statuses.
- Adams, July 12-18 - Canceled
- Allen, Aug. 21-29 - Not announced yet
- Ashland, Sept. 20-26 - Not announced yet
- Ashtabula, Aug. 11-16 - Not announced yet
- Athens, Aug. 7-15 - Junior fair only
- Auglaize, Aug. 2-8 - Not announced yet
- Belmont, Sept. 8-13 - Not announced yet
- Brown, Sept. 28-Oct. 3 - Not announced yet
- Butler, July 26-Aug. 1 - Canceled
- Carroll, July 20-25 - Canceled
- Champaign, Aug. 7-14 - Full fair is on
- Clark, July 24-31 - Junior fair only
- Clermont, July 26-Aug. 1 - Junior fair only
- Clinton, July 11-18 - Modified full fair
- Columbiana, Aug. 3-9 - Canceled
- Coshocton, Oct. 2-8 - Not announced yet
- Crawford, July 20-25 - Not announced yet
- Cuyahoga, Aug. 11-16 - Canceled
- Darke, Aug. 21-29 - Not announced yet
- Defiance, Aug. 22-29 - Not announced yet
- Delaware, Sept. 19-29 - Not announced yet
- Erie, Aug. 11-16 - Junior fair only
- Fairfield, Oct. 11-17 - Not announced yet
- Fayette, July 20-25 - Junior fair only
- Franklin, July 18-25 - Junior fair only
- Fulton, Sept. 4-10 - Junior fair only
- Gallia, Aug. 3-8 - Not announced yet
- Geauga, Sept. 3-7 - Full fair is on
- Greene, Aug. 2-8 - Not announced yet
- Guernsey, Sept. 14-20 - Not announced yet
- Hamilton, Aug. 13-16 - Not announced yet
- Hancock, Sept. 2-7 - Not announced yet
- Hardin, Sept. 8-13 - Not announced yet
- Harrison, June 22-27 - Junior fair only
- Henry, Aug. 13-20 - Not announced yet
- Highland, Sept. 6-12 - Not announced yet
- Hocking, Sept. 14-19 - Modified fair
- Holmes, Aug. 10-15 - Not announced yet
- Huron, Aug. 17-22 - Junior fair only
- Jackson, July 16-25 - Junior fair only
- Jefferson, Aug. 16-23 - Junior fair only
- Knox, July 25-Aug. 1 - Modified junior fair
- Lake, July 28-Aug. 2 - Modified junior fair
- Lawrence, July 11-18 - Junior fair only
- Licking/Hartford Independent Fair, Aug. 9-15 - Not announced yet
- Logan, July 12-18 - Junior fair only
- Lorain, Aug. 23-30 - Not announced yet
- Lucas, July 13-19 - Not announced yet
- Madison, July 12-18 - Junior fair only
- Mahoning, Sept. 2-7 - Not announced yet
- Marion, June 29-July 4 - Canceled
- Medina, Aug. 3-9 - Canceled
- Meigs, Aug. 17-22 - Full fair is on
- Mercer, Aug. 14-20 - Not announced yet
- Miami, Aug. 14-20 - Full fair is on
- Monroe, Aug. 24-29 - Junior fair only
- Montgomery, July 13-18 - Junior fair only
- Morgan, Sept. 8-12 - Not announced yet
- Morrow, Aug. 31-Sept. 5 - Senior fair canceled; junior fair undecided
- Muskingum, Aug. 16-22 - Not announced yet
- Noble, Aug. 31-Sept. 5 - Not announced yet
- Ottawa, July 20-26 - Junior fair only
- Paulding, June 13-20 - Canceled
- Perry, July 20-25 - Not announced yet
- Pickaway, June 20-27 - Modified full fair
- Pike, July 31-Aug. 2 - Full fair is on
- Portage, Aug. 25-30 - Not announced yet
- Preble, Aug. 1-9 - Not announced yet
- Putnam, June 22-27 - Modified fair
- Richland, Aug. 9-15 - Junior fair only
- Ross, Aug. 8-15 - Junior fair only
- Sandusky, Aug. 25-30 - Not announced yet
- Scioto, Aug. 10-15 - Junior fair only
- Seneca, July 2-Aug. 2 - Not announced yet
- Shelby, July 26-Aug 1 - Junior fair only
- Stark, Sept. 1-7 - Not announced yet
- Summit, July 28-Aug. 2 - Not announced yet
- Trumbull, July 6-12 Canceled
- Tuscarawas, Sept. 21-27 - Not announced yet
- Union, July 25-Aug. 1 - Junior fair only
- Van Wert, Sept. 1-7 - Not announced yet
- Vinton, July 27-Aug. 1 - Canceled
- Warren, July 20-25 - Junior fair only
- Washington, TBD - Not announced yet
- Wayne, Sept. 12-17 - Not announced yet
- Williams, Sept. 12-19 - Not announced yet
- Wood, Aug. 3-10 - Fair is on with some changes; some junior fair elements online
- Wyandot, Sept. 15-20 - Not announced yet