The Estevan Exhibition Association’s board of directors has announced the cancellation of the 2020 Energy City Ex.
The decision was made public on the association’s Facebook page Tuesday evening.
The Energy City Ex., slated for June 4-7, was to bring together Estevan’s Fair and Rodeo together on the same weekend for the first time in more than 20 years. The annual domestics show, the Estevan Sings talent competition and other attractions were to be part of the event.
There was a tremendous buzz in the community when the Energy City Ex. was first announced last year, but it won’t happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We know the public is aware that this cancellation was going to take place and we could not officially announce until we were able to arrange a meeting and follow all the necessary steps that need to take place prior to the announcement,” president Tamera Huber wrote in a letter posted to the exhibition association’s Facebook page.
“it was a sombre night when the information was officially recorded into our minutes.”
In the beginning of the pandemic, the association held out hope that the marquee community event would still be able to take place. But as the days progressed, they knew what they were to face this year, but still needed to arrange a meeting of some type while respecting all government guidelines.
The association noted that the public had asked for the fair and rodeo to be held together on the same weekend for many years, and they felt blessed when West Coast Amusements came to the table last year with the exciting news of a four-day midway leading into a weekend.
The fair has been held on weekdays in June for many years. The rodeo has typically been on the last weekend in August or the first weekend in September for nearly a decade.
“The Estevan Exhibition Association midway is what sustains our non-profit organization throughout the year,” Huber wrote.
The City of Estevan was planning to bring in the #Rednek country music festival with Gord Bamford and Jess Moskaluke to Affinity Place on June 6 as part of the Energy City Ex., but that concert has been pushed back to 2021.
The coming months will be tough to get through, the association said, just like they will be tough for the entire business community.
“But I believe that we all must have faith in our city, our province, our country and our people to lead us into what we can only hope will be a better world.”
“Everyone take care of yourselves, stay safe, stay healthy and know we at the Estevan Exhibition Association will work hard to bring joy back to your lives at next year’s events.”
Next week’s edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
