The 2020 Oklahoma State Fair has been canceled “due to the evolving COVID-19 health crisis,” organizers announced Friday afternoon.

“After extensive communications with our many partners including other state fairs, national touring acts, state and local officials, as well as public health agencies, it became clear to the Oklahoma State Fair’s Board of Directors that cancellation was the prudent choice for 2020,” according to a Tweet from Oklahoma State Fair on Twitter.

“We believe this is the correct course of action for the Oklahoma State Fair to do its part for community health and safety and to mitigate the potential spread of infection.”

So far, no plans have been made to cancel the Kingfisher County Free Fair scheduled for Aug. 26-29, Laine Martin, 4-H educator for Kingfisher County OSU Extension, said.

The Tulsa State Fair also remained scheduled as of Friday for Oct. 1-11.

Martin said Kingfisher County fair winners may be able to advance to the Tulsa fair.

The Oklahoma City fair’s cancelation is expected to be another devastating blow for the Oklahoma City economy, Timothy J. O’Toole, president and CEO of Oklahoma State Fair Inc., said.

“The impact of the state fair’s cancellation will be felt far beyond the loss of our annual celebration,” O’Toole said in a statement.

“We are tremendously saddened for the businesses, large and small, that rely on the income and exposure that the state fair brings them each year.

“We are also heartbroken for our staff, who have worked so diligently on planning for this year’s fair; the competitors and exhibitors, who take part in our various creative arts, horse and livestock events; and of course, the general fairgoers who look forward to attending the fair each year.”