Marin: County fair to be virtual again amid virus uncertainty

Marin County Fair organizers announced Friday the event will be virtual this year.

It’s the second year the fair won’t be held in person due to the uncertainty of COVID-19.

The county fairgrounds, as well as the Veterans Memorial

Auditorium, Exhibit Hall and Showcase Theater — the venues in which exhibits are typically displayed — have been serving as a pandemic response center for county health officials. The buildings will continue in this use for the foreseeable future, county officials said.

“The fairgrounds have been serving our community in a different way throughout the pandemic,” Dr. Matt Willis, the county’s public health officer, said in a statement. “In the past few months, tens of thousands of people have received vaccination doses there.

“Our fair has always promoted health and well-being for our community and has won major awards for being the healthiest fair,” he said. “Consistent with that, it’s best that we not gather for a fair this year. Last year’s virtual fair was

a big success as people had fun while adhering to public health guidelines on social distancing, so I hope it’s successful again this summer.”

Last spring when the coronavirus crisis hit, county officials made the decision to cancel the county’s biggest annual event hosted at the fairgrounds in San Rafael. Weeks later, they announced a virtual fair, hoping to engage the community in something fun, said Gabriella Calicchio, the county’s director of cultural services, who oversees the event.

While there was a driveup food fair, it wasn’t held on the traditional Fourth of July weekend. Calicchio said

the fair is part of the county’s Fourth of July celebration and they hope to invite all food vendors who normally participate.

“It was really a ‘fly by the seat of our pants’ effort to put the virtual fair together last year,” Calicchio said. “This year, we’ve had a little more planning time. I really want to give the community something special on the Fourth.”

This year’s event will feature the drive-up food fair July 2-4, plus other special touches, Calicchio said.

“We’re thinking of have some live performances to entertain patrons while they sit in their cars in line for food,” she said. “We’re also considering fireworks or

a drone light show for the night of the Fourth.”

Calicchio said they are aiming to build on the success of last year’s virtual fair, promising an upgraded online experience this summer. The 2020 event featured a series of virtual competitions including best decorated foods, trash-totreasure artwork, pet costumes, funny family photos, poetry, coordinated family dance routines and more.

All events happened on social media. The fair’s Facebook analytics showed its page netted 10,646 unique visitors and gained 1,303 new followers during the competitions. Its Instagram account also saw 718 new followers.

The event earned the county 12 awards from the Western Fairs Association, including first place in virtual fairs.

The same events are planned this year, plus, the Marin Golden Threads guild is returning to oversee a clothing and textiles exhibit. President Laurel Knapp said the guild has been participating in the fair for over two decades, with her at the helm the past 10 years.

That exhibit features works in needlepoint, embroidery, sewing, crochet, knitting and more.

“The fair is a family,” Knapp said. “We look forward to be working with everyone again.”