Concerts, carnival and commercial exhibits will go on as planned. Logistics are still being worked out on other events.
MINOT, ND – North Dakota State Fair officials announced today that this year’s annual event will begin as scheduled on July 22 and will run through July 30, but will be more limited in scale due to this year’s historic Minot flood.
Renae Korslien, NDSF manager, announced that the State Fair Board unanimously decided to move forward with the annual event with two of the primary attractions of the Fair – the concerts and the carnival – going on as planned.
Levees kept both the Fair’s Grandstand and the State Fair Center protected from the flood waters; both facilities will be operational for the Fair. “Our staff did a superhuman job protecting the Grandstand and State Fair Center,” says Korslien. “Because of their efforts, we are able to continue with a fair.”
Korslien announced that all indoor commercial exhibits will be housed in the State Fair Center. But, due to the flood’s impact on other buildings, no competitive exhibits will be held during this year’s Fair. Food vendors will continue to provide Fairgoers with their favorite fair food and organizers are still planning on providing every free stage and many of the special events to the public. Korslien adds that details are still being worked out on other matters; further announcements will be forthcoming in the days leading up to the Fair’s opening day.
The State Fair Board decided to proceed with this year’s Fair feeling they had a responsibility to the entire state and the Minot community to hold the event, as it is North Dakota’s State Fair.
“Each year, the North Dakota State Fair showcases what is best about North Dakota. During these past few months, we have all seen that for ourselves with North Dakotans helping their neighbors and even complete strangers as we’ve battled floods across our state,” Korslien stated.
“We know there will be some who will question our decision to go on with the Fair. But now more than ever, the State Fair can help us come together as a community and state, celebrating our spirit.”