Organizers of the Northwest Montana State Fair and Rodeo voted Thursday to hold the five-day event in August despite a sharp rise in coronavirus cases statewide. The fair attracted about 15,000 people per day in 2019.
Early 80,000 people attended the fair and rodeo last year, which is run by Flathead County. Events with 50 or more people are allowed under phase two of the state’s reopening plan if social distancing is possible.
Fair official Mark Campbell says social distancing and a strong recommendation for masks will be in place this year, though he says there will be no hard limit on the number of fairgoers allowed in at one time.
Campbell says that number will be dependent on events and staff’s ability to sanitize things like rides and tables. He says gates could close if social distancing becomes an issue as well.
The county says it solicited input from the health department and others in making its decision to hold the fair, which runs Aug 19 through the 23. The decision comes as the state recorded two consecutive days of record increases of new COVID-19 cases.