Grain Valley Fair To Continue With Modifications

     One of the beloved traditions of fall in Grain Valley, the Grain Valley Fair, plans to continue this year with modifications due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic..
     The Fair, scheduled for Friday, September 11th and Saturday, September 12th, will be held in its usual location at Armstrong Park, but gone are many of the traditional events.
     Mike Todd, Grain Valley Fair committee member, said the carnival will not be held due to the complications of social distancing and safety protocols.
     “There will be no carnival because social distancing is almost impossible and the amount of riders they are limited to along with the additional staff they have to have to disinfect the rides each time makes it a non money maker for them,” Todd said.
     The parade has also been canceled because social distancing cannot be guaranteed along the parade route. 
     “A lot of people are packed into a pretty small area standing shoulder to shoulder and we want to make sure to be as safe as possible,” Todd said.
     The 3rd annual Grain Valley Fair 5K is currently scheduled to continue as an in-person event, with a virtual 5K option as well. The 5K is planned for Saturday, September 12th at 8:00am. A link to register for the 5K event can be found on the fair website,
www.grainvalleyfair.com.
     Those who come to the fair for food are in luck. Friday evening will feature food vendors and some of the popular food trucks featured at this summer’s Food Truck Friday events. The food vendors and trucks will be located in the parking lots behind the Community Center where the fair is traditionally located. The committee is looking at starting the event around 5:00pm.
     With plenty of space in the area, the committee hopes to be able to include a beer garden that would meet social distancing requirements.
     “Music is still up in the air and will depend on where we are at on the county's opening plan at that point,” Todd said.
     Food vendors and select food trucks will be back on Saturday, September 12th in the parking lot area.  A select number of non food fair vendors are also planned.
     “We will also have them set up around the track behind the pavilion.  They will be in their own pop up tents and will all be spaced at least 10 feet apart,” Todd said.
     Much depends upon the status of Jackson County’s reopening plan, so many details remain tentative. Additional details will be provided on the Fair’s website,
 www.grainvalleyfair.com, and on the Fair’s Facebook page.