The Delaware State Fair has lost multiple entertainers because of pandemic-related restrictions being placed on outdoor seating in the M&T Bank Grandstand.
The capacity is now down to 2,500 for each concert and 1,500 for the demolition derby, the State Fair said. Tickets for the new lineup go on sale 10 a.m. Wednesday on the fair’s website.
“No fair for my family this year,” Velvet Punky Annand posted on the fair’s Facebook video announcing the changes.
“We are sorry to disappoint,” the fair wrote back. “We were hoping for a normal summer. Fingers are crossed for things to improve in the state for all.”
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The new rules on tickets
“The track area will now be set up with 222 pods seating 888 ticket holders comprised of groups of four seats arranged and separated from other pods with social distancing guidelines in mind,” the fair said. “Track seats can only be purchased as a group of four seats.
Stadium and grandstand tickets will be sold in pods of two, four or six seats. There will be 1,077 grandstand seats and 485 stadium bleachers seats per show.
“In the bleacher and grandstand areas, every other row has been taken out of service and two empty chars must be preserved between ticket buying parties,” the fair continued.
Masks must be worn while entering, leaving and moving around the arena. Masks can be removed when people are in their pods.
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Pit and VIP loft tickets on the track are gone. And, yes, if there’s an odd number in your party, you still have to purchase an even number of tickets, leaving an unused seat or finding someone else to join you.
Gone are TobyMac, Sam Hunt, Hank Williams Jr., the Tedeschi Trucks Band, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, The I Love the ’90s Tour and the Roots & Boots Tour. The fair has issued refunds for these tickets. “So disappointed Toby Mac is cancelled again,” Heather Billger wrote on Facebook.
Entertainment for July 22 and July 30 is still to be named.
New on July 23, with shows at 3 and 6 p.m. is “Blippi the Musical.” Tickets are $25-$50, plus service fee.
Lauren Alaina and Maddie & Tae remain on July 24. Alaina is known as the “sassy Southerner with killer pipes.” Madison Marlow and Taylor Dye are best known for their debut single “Girl in a Country Song.” Tickets are $25-$65, plus service fee.
The demolition derby remains July 25. Tickets are $14-$16, plus service fee.
Riley Green – known for “There Was This Girl,” the debut No. 1 single that he wrote – performs July 26 (that’s two days ahead of what was first announced) with an opening act to be named. Tickets are $30-$60, plus service fee.
Tracy Byrd is added on July 27, with Jo Dee Messina. Tickets are $25-$45, plus service fee. Byrd became known in 1993 for “Holdin’ Heaven,” a No. 1 country single. Messina has nine No. 1 hits.
Hardy, previously billed second with Green, now headlines on July 28, with Jon Langston. Tickets are $25-$55, plus service fee. Hardy grew up on classic rock in a country town in Mississippi.
Harness racing remains free on July 29.
Zach Williams is the new closing event, on July 31, with Stephen Stanley. Tickets are $25-$45, plus service. Williams has been nominated for a Christian music Grammy.
