The Lloydminster Exhibition fair will be cancelled for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Facebook/Lloyd Ex Assoc.)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Lloydminster Exhibition Fair cancelled for first time in 114 years

Apr 29, 2020 | 7:49 PM

Citing community and volunteer safety concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic, members of the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association have decided to postpone the annual fair until next year.

It will be the first time the event won’t happen in 114 years.

“As difficult as this decision was, it is in the best interests of our community and public health and it is the right action at this time,” association president Kevin Komrey said in a press release issued late Wednesday afternoon.

The event, which sees more than 40,000 people go through its gates, features animal and craft competitions, ag shows, a vendor trade show, a petting zoo for kids and a midway, in addition to live nightly entertainment, PBR bull riding, demolition derby and fireworks.

According to the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association the fair brings millions of dollars into the Lloydminster area, making the decision to cancel the event an agonizing one for the board of directors to make.

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The board was planning a new updated name and look to the 2020 edition of the fair, which was to run July 8 to 11, with new feature attractions.

“I was personally excited to see all this hard work come to fruition in 2020, however, that planning will not be wasted. Watch for Fair 2021 to be an even more spectacular community event,” Komrey said.

The board said they will continue to assess all events going forward and will make decisions on their future on an event by event basis.

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