Delaware County Fair cancels Saturday fireworks show due to worsening drought in state

The Delaware County Fair Advisory Board has canceled fireworks for its 2024 fair as the state continues to grapple with worsening drought conditions, the fair board announced on its Facebook page Wednesday.

The committee made the unanimous decision to cancel the fireworks after consulting with the state fire marshal, the statement said. The show was originally scheduled for the final day of the fair, which began Sept. 14 and ends Saturday.

The fireworks cancellation is the latest event to be canceled due to the widespread drought in the state. Libby’s Pumpkin Patch in Meigs County announced Sunday that the pumpkin patch would not be open due to the “unprecedented drought.”

The state fire marshal on Friday extended an open-air burning ban to Franklin, Delaware and other central Ohio counties, The Dispatch reported. The ban prohibits the open burning of trash and debris, campfires or bonfires, the setting off of fireworks and any other activity that could start a fire.

Ohio is currently facing its most severe drought ever, and the situation continues to worsen, The Dispatch reported. Up to 7% of the state is currently experiencing “exceptional” drought conditions, the highest level of drought on the drought watch scale.

Delaware County is currently experiencing a “moderate drought,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

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This article was originally published on The Columbus Dispatch: Delaware County Fair cancels Saturday fireworks as drought worsens