Shifting schedule

Tracy Lawrence, Sammy Kershaw and Jordan Feliz will perform at the Jay County Fair — in 2021.

Jay County Fair Board made the announcement this morning the performers originally scheduled for next month’s fair have been booked for next year.

On Monday, the Cincinnatus League announced it will not open its “frostee” booth at the fair this year and will not hold its annual senior citizen recognition ceremony.

The shift comes after the fair board last month announced plans to scale back this year’s fair to four days from the planned nine in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. As part of that change, grandstand entertainment will be limited to an all-day demolition derby July 18. Everything else that was scheduled for the grandstand was canceled because of financial concerns and the need for social distancing.

Lawrence, with Kershaw as his opener, is now scheduled to perform Friday, July 16, 2021, during the fair. Feliz, a Christian music artist, is slated to play Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

For those who had already purchased tickets, they will automatically roll over to the newly scheduled date, the fair board said. Those who would like refund instead can make a request by emailing [email protected] by July 12. Requests should include name, email, phone number and order number (if available).

The Cincinnatus League met Friday and made the decision not to open its booth based on the safety of its workers who are mostly 65 and older.

The senior citizen recognition, which has been a regular Wednesday afternoon event in the Farmer’s Building during the fair, was called off for the same reason.

Jay County Fair Board expects to release additional details about the fair’s four-day run this summer in the coming days. Along with the demolition derby, there will be concerts in the Farmer’s Building each day and traditional activities like children’s pedal pulls, the baby contest and a pet parade. The board has been working with providers on possible rides and other entertainment.

Gate admission to the fair will be free this year.

The Jay County 4-H Fair is moving forward in a “show and go” format — animals will not stay at the fairgrounds because of the need for social distancing. Organizers are working on the schedule for those livestock shows.