Organizers say the event could compromise “painstaking progress” in the fight against COVID-19

A Thanksgiving Weekend tradition in Lambton County – the Brigden Fair – won’t run this fall.

The Moore Agricultural Society released the decision early this morning saying the event which can draw up to 50,000 people on a weekend, couldn’t go on with the pandemic restrictions still easing.

“Collectively, we had hoped that the summer months would bring relaxation to pandemic related restrictions and easement to gathering limitations that would allow our celebration of agriculture to proceed as customary,” the society wrote in a news release. “Despite the progress being made in communities across the province, it is now clear to organizers that the alleviation from the critical restrictions will not be made quickly enough.

“Proceeding the Brigden Fall Fair at this time, could compromise months of slow and painstaking progress that has been made in the fight against COVID-19. With infection rates dropping and immunization rates on the rise, now is not the time for unnecessary risk taking.”

The society also recognized its traditional sponsors – local business – have been hit hard economically by the pandemic.

The society is planning smaller events including a drive in movie night in August. “More will be announced as pandemic restrictions are relaxed and events can be conducted safely.”

The group also noted the fair “has far reaching social and economic impacts” and the society “is committed to mitigating the losses felt across the community.”

This is the second year the agricultural society had to cancel the event due to COVID-19 restrictions. Organizers say the them planned for 2020 and 2021 – Hats off to the Brigden Fair – will now be used for the 2022 event.