One Of Massachusetts' Oldest Fairs Will Stop Running

BROCKTON, MA — After surviving the first pandemic in 1918, one of the oldest fairs in the country did not survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Brockton Fair "is probably done for good," Chris Carney, whose family owns the fairgrounds, told the Brockton Enterprise.

Around since 1874, the Brockton Fair has been closed for the last two years due to the pandemic - and earlier this week, it was determined that it would be canceled again this year.

Brockton city officials say the COVID-19 pandemic is not the only factor behind the end of the nearly 150-year-old fair, but Mayor Robert Sullivan said in a statement Monday that he could "understand the reasons for the decision to cancel the Fair again this year."

"The future for that premier property, however, is bright. It is a key parcel in the heart of our city," Sullivan said. "The city is working closely with the Carney family to ensure that whatever future development is located there will continue to move Brockton forward as a vibrant place to live, work and visit."

The nearly 60-acre lot currently holds school busses for Brockton Public Schools until the city can figure out what to do with the historic grounds that made lasting memories on attendees for years.