Wheat Festival On For September
Planning has begun for the 2021 Okawville Fair and Wheat Festival, following a year when COVID-19 caused its cancellation.
“We will have it until someone tells us we can’t” said Fair Board president Roy Frederking.
The 2021 event will be held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 17, 18, and 19.
The Board is working under the assumption that as more people receive the vaccine and the number of COVID positive cases declines, Region 4 will advance from Tier 4 to Tier 5 under Restore Illinois. Tier 4 limits inside gatherings to 50, or 50 percent of a room. That capacity would most affect the Queen Pageant, held in the Okawville High Gym.
Planning has begun by the Parade, Premium Book/Exhibition Hall, Queen Pageant, Talent Show, Antique Tractor Pull, and other committees. Entertainment that was scheduled for last year has already been rescheduled for this year.
The Fair Association will follow any guidelines of the Health Department, said Frederking.
Since the Fair is held in the latter part of the fair season, the board has the advantage of observing how other fairs in the state operate, said the Board President.
Read the full story in this week’s issue.
