Even as Governor Walz continues to turn the dial towards reopening the state, Minnesota continues to see and feel the effects of COVID-19.

With summer and festival season approaching, at least 20 county fairs across Minnesota have announced their plans to cancel events this year. They are:

Aitkin
Benton
Cass
Clearwater
Freeborn
Grant
Kandiyohi
Kittson
Marshall
Norman
Pennington
Pine
Polk
Ramsey
Roseau
Sherburne
Stearns
Wadena
West Otter Tail
Wilkin
Yellow Medicine

"We were hoping to not have to make this announcement," said Sherburne County Fair organizers on Facebook, "but, after careful consultation with the county and other organizations regarding the health and safety of everyone in our community – our visitors, our volunteers, our exhibitors and our longtime fair partners – we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Sherburne County Fair, scheduled for July 18-21, 2020 in Elk River, MN."

The message from Benton County Fair organizers was about the same.

"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the current restrictions and the unknown future regarding large group gatherings and required protocol to became apparent that we would not be able to have a normal fair."

The Benton County Fair has been rescheduled for August 3rd-8th 2021 and the Sherburne County Fair July 15-18th, 2021. The Minnesota State Fair, meanwhile, may make its own announcement regarding this year's Get Together by the weekend as the board is expected to meet sometime Friday, May 22.

"The Minnesota State Fair board of managers will meet Friday, May 22, to discuss the 2020 fair," the Fair said in a statement. "All official and up-to-date information can be found on our website, mnstatefair.org."

Last month, the MN State Fair said that it was "considering options that will enable us to provide that experience in 2020;" it was not, however, considering alternate fair dates, a change in duration of the fair, or significant restrictions.