No State Fair for Virginia this Year?

[cfc]

According to a story in the Daily Press (Newport News), there will probably be no state fair in Virginia this year, ending a "150-year run":

 

The State Fair of Virginia, which has entertained generations of Virginians for more than a century and a half, won't be held this year because its operator has shut down.

 

Whether another entity will step up and take over the annual fall event this year or in the future is uncertain.

 

SFVA Inc., the nonprofit organization that puts on the fair and a series of other events, failed to reach an agreement with lenders by a Wednesday deadline.

 

You can read more about it here.

 

The short of it is that the State Fair of Viriginia's (SFVAs) investment portfolio took such a hit from the recession that SFVA was unable to meet its obligations to its lenders. In 2009 the fair moved from its old ground near Richmond to a new facility in Caroline County, which is located on the same road as Kings Dominion.

 

The fair is not a state-sponsored event.

Edited March 10, 2012 by cfc

[simon8899]

Sad news for all locals....

 

Smaller carnivals slowly die here also. Most poeple want flashy big state-of-the-art rides and as "smaller" showmen cant afford them poeple go for the big fairs in the major cities - and as the smaller fairs loose crowds they die out. Over here all fairs are organized by the local Economic Deptartment at the city hall.

[thrillrider]

Bummer.

 

Same thing happened to the Michigan state fair a few years ago.

[cfc]

^They mention that in the article, too.

 

EDIT: Today's Daily Press (Sunday, March 11) mentioned that the Richmond International Raceway is interested in hosting the state fair again.

Edited March 11, 2012 by cfc

[gisco]

Why would Virginia have a state fair anyway since they are a commonwealth?

[cfc]

^So we've never actually had a "state" fair? Oh my gawd!