Clay County Fair returns Thursday with new safety guidelines in place

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — The Clay County Agricultural Fair is back this year and it opens on Thursday. It was canceled last year because of the pandemic.

Action News Jax’s Alicia Tarancon got a sneak peek behind the scenes to see what they’re doing different this year to protect fair-goers.

Nearly 200 employees were busy at work Wednesday morning getting all the final preparations done before the fair opens.

Live concerts, rides, food, animals, and everything fair-goers love to see will be back but with safety measures in place.

“We are following CDC guidelines. We do have a lot of protocols in place so mask are strongly encouraged but they are not required. If someone forgets their mask at home we will have them free at guest services,” Tasha Hyder, the general manager of Clay County Fair said.

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Cleaning crews have doubled in size this year at the fair because of the pandemic.

It’s gone from eight to 16 people and you’ll be able to spot them at the fairgrounds because they’ll be wearing brightly green-colored shirts.

Every night crews will also sanitize the fairgrounds.

The Clay County Fair and health department are also partnering together to administer COVID-19 vaccines at the fair.

“We actually have a health department trailer that’s going to be behind the first aid area and we’re actually going to be doing walk up vaccinations there of Pfizer,” John Ward, the Director of Emergency Management for Clay County, said.

The fair will have four new rides, new food vendors, new concerts and a community stage for entertainment.

After a year off, the Clay County Fair is ready to serve the community once again.

“I think we’re just more excited than the normal fair-goer. We’re excited to have everybody back out there. We tell everyone it’s like a family reunion,” Hyder said.

The fair opens from April 1 to April 11.

You can purchase tickets online or in-person at the fairgrounds. For more information you can click HERE.

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