Officials in Lapeer County met Wednesday morning and made major decisions on the two largest events in the county. Below is a statement from the Lapeer Area Chamber of Commerce:
LAPEER and IMLAY CITY — Organizers of Lapeer County’s two largest annual events —the Eastern Michigan State Fair and Lapeer Days — announced today the outright cancellation of one and a much-scaled-back version of the other for this COVID-racked year.
Ian Kempf, fair manager of the Eastern Michigan State Fair, said his board has determined that the fair will consist of youth animal exhibits and competitions only that will not be open to the public. There will be no auction, no midway and no grandstand events.
“Given the mandates (of Michigan Gov.Gretchen Whitmer) there is no way we can put on an event of that size. That’s just not going to happen.” The Eastern Michigan State Fair was scheduled July 28 to Aug. 1.
Neda Payne, executive director of the Lapeer Area Chamber of Commerce,met with the 2020 Lapeer Days Committee in a virtual meeting this (Wednesday) morning, including longtime co-chairs Tim Lipka and Charlie Mitchell, to make the official decision that committee members knew was coming— Lapeer Days is a no-go for this year.
“We know this is a blow to our entire community — the families who attend Michigan’s largest free festival, the vendors who make a living at these events and all of our local non-profits that fundraise at Lapeer days. It is also a huge disappointment to all of the committee members who volunteer their time to put on this great event for our community, family and friends,” Payne said. “But it would be neither practical nor responsible to attempt to hold Lapeer Days under the current pandemic conditions and restrictions.”
Lapeer Days 2020 was scheduled for Aug. 21-23.
Both Kempf and Payne extended their appreciation to sponsors and patrons and promise their events will be back next year “bigger and better” than ever.
