Due to the coronavirus pandemic and uncertainty surrounding public gatherings this summer, there will be no West End Fair this year.

The committee for the popular fair held a lengthy meeting Tuesday evening to discuss and vote on that decision.

This decision was posted on Facebook, and confirmed later in a phone call with Dale “Peanut” Greenzweig Jr., president of the fair committee.

He said later this week, he will provide more information regarding the reasoning behind the canceled fair, and will also speak about plans for smaller events in its place.

Carbon, Schuylkill and Wayne counties have all canceled in recent days, noting the loss of state funding, the safety of fairgoers and the uncertainty of restrictions caused by COVID-19.

The attendance is more than 180,000 each year, according to the West End Fair’s website.

The fair would have been celebrating its 99th year.

The West End Fair was started in 1920, but wasn’t held in 1942 because of World War II.

The 100th anniversary celebration has now been moved to 2022.

The fair began as a one-day event, always held on the last Wednesday in August. The fair went from a one-day event in the 1920s to a six-day event in 1975.

In recent years, the fair start was delayed because of Hurricane Irene in 2011, and closed early because of remnants of Hurricane Katrina pounding the area in 2005.

The fair committee hopes to plan smaller events throughout the summer.

Late Tuesday night, the fair Facebook page announced a West End Fair Celebration Fest occurring July 3 from 4-9:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

“We will have music, fireworks, food, basket raffle and Blue Ridge Winery,” the post says.

Organizers are collecting donations and gift cards for the basket raffles.

The post ends with “hope to see you at the Celebration Fest!”