Two of Maine's big autumn fairs cancel plans due to rising COVID-19 risks

a group of people with signs that say things like local produce, including a small boy dressed as a carrot, march on a dirt road past vendor booths

Courtesy / MOFGA The Common Ground Country Fair, which was to be an in-person event later this month, has been canceled because of the resurgence in COVID-19.

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By William Hall

The resurgence of COVID-19 has already forced the cancellation of many events this fall at Maine indoor venues, and is now taking a new toll on the state’s outdoor fairs.

The latest casualties include the Common Ground Country Fair, which was to be held Sept. 24-26 in Unity, and the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival, scheduled for Oct. 2 in Dover-Foxcroft.

Both events, which draw thousands of attendees and provide an annual boost for local economies, held virtual events in 2020. But in separate announcements on Wednesday, organizers for both fairs called off this year’s in-person plans.

“It is with heavy hearts that we’re writing today to let you know that we have decided not to move forward with an in-person Common Ground Country Fair this year,” wrote the fair’s sponsor, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, in an online message Wednesday.

“The ongoing pandemic, rising COVID-19 cases throughout Maine, and valuable feedback from our community have led us to this point. We did not come to this decision easily and know that people will have mixed reactions and emotions, as we all do.”

In place of the fair, which sometimes draws as many as 60,000 visitors, MOFGA said it is exploring ways to support vendors and exhibitors that had planned to participate. The association may also post online videos and educational content during the fair week.

This year’s Common Ground Country Fair was to be the 44th.

The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival has been held annually since 2009, and serves as a fundraiser for Center Theatre in Dover-Foxcroft and also a money-maker for the area’s businesses. The festival typically draws about 7,000 people and is Piscataquis County’s largest one-day event.

On Wednesday, Center Theatre said it had called off the festival due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the county.

"This is not a decision we made lightly or happily," said Patrick Myers, executive director of the Center Theatre and one of the organizers of the event, in a news release. "We had planned to have the festival at the fairgrounds to give us the best chance to have it safely, but we have been watching the steep increase in cases in our community.

“After discussing the conditions with Northern Light Mayo Hospital, the Center Theatre Board of Directors decided that the only responsible decision was to cancel the festival."

Myers noted that Piscataquis County has the highest percentage of positive COVID tests in the state over the past 14 days, 9.5%, and the highest per capita rate of cases, 50.64 per 10,000.