Please see the announcement below for details concerning the cancellation of the 2022 Fair Parade:2022 Johnson County Fair Parade - CANCELLED
Description
On behalf of the Gardner Chamber of Commerce, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2022 Johnson county Fair Parade. This was an extremely difficult decision to make, but due to the ongoing reconstruction of Hwy 56/Main St. in downtown Gardner, there is just too much uncertainty as to whether the parade would be able to take place as usual. As of this week, the east bound lanes of Hwy 56 have not yet been completed. The next phase would be west bound lanes. While it is our hope that the project moves along quickly, issues like weather, supply chain, workforce, etc. are all factors that could play a role in further delays. Furthermore, after the completion of the current project, there will be an asphalt overlay project heading from downtown west to the western Gardner border, along the entire parade route.
We consulted with local public safety officials, looked at alternate routes and tried to find a viable alternative. In the end, we determined that the best course of action for 2022 would be to cancel the parade and come back in 2023 when Main St. is fully reconstructed. This is an event we start working on months in advance (as do those organization that enter floats), and not knowing for sure if the project will be completed on time and in a way that would allow us to hold the parade in a safe and secure manner, led us to this decision. If you have any questions, email us at info@gardnerchamber.com and we'll be happy to get back to you.
We will miss seeing the smiling faces, kids collecting candy, and businesses/politicians promoting themselves. The Johnson County Fair Parade has been a tradition in the Gardner community for dozens of years, so it is not a decision we take lightly. This year we just encourage you to attend the Johnson County fair, support the 4-Hers who put hours of work into it, and enjoy the rest of the festivities. Visit https://www.jocokansasfair.com/ to learn more. We thank the thousands of people who've participated in the parade in years past and look forward to seeing you in 2023!
Sincerely,
Gardner Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
2022 Johnson County Fair Parade - CAN...