CANFIELD, Ohio – The Canfield Fair celebrated its 175th edition in 2021 and was recognized as one of the top 50 fairs in the country, based on attendance. It hosted concerts by Darius Rucker and Shinedown, each drawing a near-capacity crowd.
The many highlights of 2021 sharply contrast with the previous year when all but the Junior Fair was canceled because of the pandemic.
The first phase of the long-awaited event center opened for Junior Fair exhibits in 2020 but 2021 was the year that brought hundreds of thousands of people to see the flagship building for the first time. Construction of phase two will begin in the first half of this year and will include the addition of restrooms and a lobby area.
The fairgrounds and the event center were used throughout the year for community programs such as food distributions, COVID-19 testing and test distributions.
To mark its return, the fair presented the Flock to the Fairgrounds public art project. The campaign brought 21 six-foot tall fiberglass rooster statues to life with unique art. The statues were sponsored by local businesses and created by local artists. They will be auctioned as a fundraiser on March 26 at the event center.