Lucas Bell 
With the coronavirus pandemic still looming large across the United States, nearly every major automotive related event scheduled for the summer and early fall has been canceled. There was no New York Auto Show, and Detroit’s show and Dream Cruise are both off the table this year as well. Now though, it has been confirmed that the Texas Auto Show and the State Fair of Texas that hosts the event have been canceled for 2020.
The news came early Tuesday when State Fair of Texas officials posted a notice on the event’s website. The fair attracts an estimated 2 million visitors a year, and officials stated that there was no feasible way to adequately provide proper distancing for fairgoers. The news comes as states across the nation, including Texas, have seen major spikes in coronavirus cases following initial re-openings.
Traditionally, brands like Chevrolet, GMC, Ford and Ram have used the State Fair of Texas to unveil updates or new additions to their full-size truck and SUV portfolio. In 2019, for example, Ford used the event to debut an updated Ford Super Duty that features class-leading payload and towing, along with 1,050 lb-ft of torque. Chevrolet, meanwhile, debuted the Silverado 1500 Midnight Edition. FCA did something similar with the Ram HD Night Edition and Ram 1500 Limited Black Edition.
While the State Fair of Texas may be better known for its rides and family fun, it is also home to arguably the largest auto show in the country. This is because the event runs for almost an entire month, far longer than any other show here in the States. While it’s not entirely surprising to learn that another one of these events has been postponed for the year, there are probably a few gearheads in Texas that are bummed out by the news.
State Fair of Texas officials have confirmed on their website that the event is slated to return for 2021, starting on September 24 and running through October 17. The Texas Auto Show has also confirmed this date change on their own website as well. State officials, including Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, have shared their support for the decision as the public health crisis continues to unfold.
So yet another event has fallen by the wayside as we grapple with the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s to hoping that 2021 comes with more answers and more events.
