A long-running, annual Piatt County event has been canceled for 2020.

The Piatt County Fair Board met this week and decided to cancel the annual Piatt County Fair in Cerro Gordo.  This year's event was to be held on June 18th through the 21st.

Andy Bolsen organizes the annual antique tractor pull, and also serves on the Piatt County Fair Board.  He says public health concerns due to coronavirus, as well as financial concerns, have led to the cancellation.

Bolsen believes safety has to be the biggest factor in holding any event.  He notes the majority of the fair's volunteers fall in the at-risk age group.  In addition, he notes fairs and festivals have to weigh the possibility of not having the public feel safe enough to attend an event.

Bolsen says there is a bright spot to the cancellation.  The Piatt County Fair Board is going to use the year off to do additional work on the fairgrounds.

The Piatt County Fair is the latest in several fairs and festivals to be canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic.  Monticello's annual Freedom Fest also announced its cancellation this week.