2020 Texas State Fair canceled

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- For the first time since 1945, the State Fair of Texas has been canceled.

“With a heavy heart, we are announcing that the State Fair of Texas will not open for the 2020 season,” said the statement on the state fair website. “We believe the spirit of the Lone Star state lies in every Texan’s ability to care and look out for their neighbor and it is with this in mind, we have decided to keep our guests, staff, and partners safe and healthy during these uncertain time.”

Dallas, the home of the State Fair of Texas continues to be hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dallas County saw a 16% increase in hospitalizations on July 6 and reported over 1,200 new cases.

“In the current climate of COVID-19, there is no feasible way for the Fair to put proper precautions in place while maintaining the Fair environment you know and love,” said Gina Norris, board chair for the State Fair of Texas, in a released statement. “While we cannot predict what the COVID-19 pandemic will look like in September, the recent surge in positive cases is troubling for all of North Texas. The safest and most responsible decision we could make for all involved at this point in our 134-year history is to take a hiatus for the 2020 season.”

The other major event associated with the State Fair of Texas is the Red River Rivalry game, the annual college football game between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners. The game is traditionally played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas in October during the fair.

As of now, major college football is still planning to play the 2020 season, mostly as scheduled. Both Texas and Oklahoma have released statements saying the Cotton Bowl is still the planned venue for this season’s game. The last time the OU-Texas football game took place outside of Dallas was in 1922 and 1923 when the teams played in Norman, Oklahoma, then Austin, Texas.