DIXON, CA (MPG) - There may have been a minimal May Fair this year, but Dixonites showed up anyway--albeit to munch the tastes of the May Fair food concessions, bid out their animals in the junior livestock auction, or enter their crafts, artwork or pictures to support our local May Fair.

“The turn out seemed a steady flow and I’m feeling great about it,” said May Fair CEO Pat Conklin last Friday. “People are feeling happy to be able to come out and get fair food and they’re understanding about masks. This is the first step to the real thing.”

The ‘real thing’ normally draws thousands from all over Solano County and beyond over a 4-day weekend that started as a simple May Day celebration in 1876. There are traditional carnival rides, buildings filled with exhibits from tractors to quilts, farm animals from chickens to llamas, and usually a major source of entertainment such as a live band or demolition derby. The May Fair makes its money from entry fees, admission, sponsorships and although most of that did not happen this year, Conklin says, “This is a first step,” she knows how much still needs to happen for financial stability after a way-too-long pandemic-induced shut down.

“We won’t know how much this will help until the end,” she reminded. “We put in a lot of money for security, medics, the health department permit, extra supplies, and janitorial.” She was quick to jump to the positive note, though, saying that all the entries for students are available to see online.

There were numerous entries in this year’s virtual May Fair competition and are individually pictured on the website: dixonmayfair.com. There will be three tabs of the three categories: 4-H entries, adult entries, and youth entries.

If one visited the fairgrounds on any of these past evenings it was open with food concessions, you would have deemed it success. A lot of the May Fair fun is just simply being on the fairgrounds itself with expansive lawns and large shade trees enjoying a delicious corn dog, rolled taco, or piece of pie.