2021 Got to Be NC Festival canceled

The event, held each spring, was set to take place at May 14-16 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.

Posted 6:13 p.m. Mar 3, 2021 — Updated 12:02 a.m. Mar 4, 2021

Kathy Hanrahan, Out

and

About editor

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced Wednesday that the 2021 Got to Be NC festival is canceled.

The event, held each spring, was set to take place at May 14-16 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.

“We are making progress in the state getting people vaccinated against this deadly virus, but we still have a ways to go in these efforts before a larger percentage of the population is vaccinated,” Troxler said in a series of Tweets from the N.C. State Fair account. “We want people to be able to come out and safely enjoy all the fun activities offered at the Festival, but it doesn’t make sense at this time to try to hold this annual event. Our staff is is busy planning for October’s NC State Fair!"

This is the second year in a row that the Got to Be NC Festival has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last year's North Carolina State Fair was also canceled due to the virus. It was the first cancelation of the fair since World War II.

One week ago, Troxler said that the 2021 State Fair would go on as scheduled on Oct. 14-24 at the fairgrounds.

From cocktails to cow sales, good pandemic news means a return of entertainment

"We are going to have a State Fair," Troxler said while delivering the State of Agriculture address. "Everybody take the vaccine when it’s available to you and let’s have the biggest State Fair ever.”

Troxler's remarks came hours before Gov. Roy Cooper announced the easing of some pandemic-related restrictions, including allowing bars to begin seating people indoors and more fans to attend sporting events.

Suggest A Correction