(7/30) The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its effect on the holding of local fairs and festivals.

The 56th National Apple Harvest Festival, held annually in Biglerville in October, has been canceled. Andrew Robinson, event publicity chairman, said, "As a festival built around all things apple, we strive to think about everyone involved when making decisions. Coming to this decision wasn't easy…As we explored options to hold the festival, it was clear that there was no path forward, and the safety of our guests, vendors, volunteers, and everyone involved was our primary concern when making this decision."

The event can attract as many as 25,000 individuals each day, amounting to more than 100,000 attendees during the four-day event. Money generated by the National Apple Harvest Festival is distributed among local, state and national charitable organizations, with the bulk of those funds going to local organizations.

"The decision is tough for all of us, and we want all of our guests to understand this decision was truly one made with heavy hearts, with the best intentions in mind for everyone involved. These are challenging times, but with the support of our community we are confident in a strong comeback in 2021," Robinson stated.

The 158th Annual Great Frederick Fair is also canceled as result of COVID-19. The event, held annually at the Frederick Fairgrounds, was also canceled during the 1918 Spanish Flu Influenza.

The Great Frederick Fair attracts nearly a quarter of a million attendees each year and generates around one million dollars distributed among local businesses. The organizers stated, "The fair board has determined that to follow the CDC and state and local health department recommendations would result in eliminating some of our greatest fair traditions and make others unrecognizable."

The cancellation of the Great Frederick Fair, the South Mountain Fair and the Thurmont/Emmitsburg Community Show has sadly left local 4-Hr's no opportunity to show off their agriculture skills.

While Frederick's Oktoberfest will be held, it will not entail the large gathering of people as in the past. Instead, the event will only offer 'take-out' of food and beer to patrons.

The cancellation of the National Apple Harvest Festival and the Great Frederick Fair follows on the heels of the cancellation of several other popular events. These heavily attended Frederick and Adams counties' events include the South Mountain Fair, Thurmont's Colorfest, Fairfield's Pippinfest and many other carnivals and fund-raisers generally held by the region's fire and ambulance emergency services.

Also canceled was the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, which was scheduled to occur in August and the Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival, which was scheduled for September. Both organizations cited the current state COVID-19 restrictions, which will not permit gatherings of more than 250 individuals as the basis for the cancellations. Both organizations stated that neither event could be held in a manner that could meet the attendee limit.

If all this isn't bad enough, as we go to press, we've been notified that the Thurmont Business Showcase, which was postponed in April just as the pandemic reared its head, has been canceled for this year.

So much for 2020.