Fair carnival canceled amid virus concerns

This year’s Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo attendees can still expect the beloved event to unfold later this month, but this time without a carnival.

That’s according to Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell, who announced the cancellation during a press conference on Wednesday.

While the carnival company is normally invited to set up at 20 or so events throughout the year, Campbell said the entity has only attended two so far this year. He said the company and fair officials made the “joint decision” to strike the carnival from fair offerings, “for the health of our community and their workers.”

The highly anticipated carnival was one of several concerns highlighted in a letter that was presented to the Fair Board during a special meeting last Thursday. The letter was signed by 140 health-care providers calling for a significant decrease in fair offerings stating “large crowds during the COVID-19 pandemic with rapidly rising cases in our county is dangerous to our community and jeopardizes our plans to send our children back to school for in-person learning this fall.”

As of Tuesday, that signature count had grown to more than 300.

The fair, which is expected to wrap up just days before kids return to school, is the only one in Montana that has not been canceled all together or deeply scaled back to what some would describe as a more pandemic-appropriate level. While many are pushing for the fair to go on — particularly small business owners who rely on fair profits and 4-H families — others in the community, namely those in the health-care industry, say some of the other events are too large.

During the press conference, the Nikel family emphasized how they “rely on income from the fair,” to support their business, Glacier Shaved Ice. Manny Barone, a local 4-H member, and local Future Farmers of America representative Bailey Lake, both said they and other youth have been eagerly anticipating the fair as an outlet for displaying their livestock and other accomplishments.

“The Northwest Montana fair is the place to showcase all of this,” said 17 year-old Lake. “I think it’s important to have the fair and for the show to go on.”

However, it’s not the 4-H and livestock sale components that have necessarily prompted concern from many in the community. And in recent weeks, even those against larger events such as carnivals, have said they believe that aspect of the fair can still occur safely with enough preparation.

The fair is still expected to offer an evening concert, albeit without a party pit or beer garden, and with reduced ticket sales, and a rodeo that’s expected to draw contestants from near and far.

The online contestant registry for the rodeo closed earlier this week and according to Campbell, 445 contestants signed up — a number that falls below the 500 to 700 contestants staff had anticipated. Campbell added he expects that number will drop slightly in the days leading up to the event.

He also said all contestants will be screened upon entry and all of the events are expected to roll out in a slack rodeo format. That means some events will occur at different times on different days to ensure distancing between the contestants. As for the audience portion of the rodeo, grandstand seating has been spread out and there are foot traffic markers to assist with crowd flow.

CAMPBELL SAID adjustments will continue to be made in the days leading up to the fair and emphasized fair officials have been working closely with the Flathead City-County Health Department.

In an effort to urge fair attendees to wear masks, social distance and adhere to other COVID-19 guidelines Campbell announced Wednesday the start of a campaign titled “Be a Fair Champion.”

The campaign outlines rules and regulations individuals can expect at this year’s event. For example, one rule states “Montana mask directives are enforced — all attendees will be required to wear a mask or face covering. If exempt, [masks are] still required where social distancing minimum requirements cannot be achieved.”

Campbell said if individuals do not abide by this rule, fair staff will first turn to methods of “positive reinforcement,” by verbally asking them to wear a face covering. Should they still refuse to wear one, Campbell said they will be asked to leave “and can come back and enjoy the fair next year.”

The campaign’s launch comes about two weeks before the start of the five-day event Aug. 19-23.

Campbell said fair staff have been working since March to implement signs on doors, buildings and walkways, station hand-washing and sanitizing areas, create plans for foot traffic around the fair and in the grandstands, bring in additional seating for dining, put up screen protectors on ticket booths and more. In addition, Campbell also said from the hours of 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., people can purchase 2-for-1 gate admission tickets — a measure he hopes will encourage people to attend the event during times that typically attract fewer individuals in order to space out attendance.

“We have looked at this upside down and right side up,” Campbell said.

Usually the fair brings in about 180 employees who help run the event. This year, that number is closer to 215.

“We want people to come be a fair champion all the way through,” Campbell said.

To review the campaign details and event rules go to www.nwmtfair.com