Delaware State Fair changes summer concert lineup

The Delaware State Fair recently announced significant changes to its M&T Bank Grandstand lineup for Thursday, July 22 to Saturday, July 31.

These changes were prompted by the most recent guidance received from the Delaware Department of Public Health on how to safely hold outdoor concerts and shows in Harrington later this summer.

In order to comply with COVID-19 social distancing requirements, the capacity of the M&T Bank Grandstand has been dramatically reduced compared to pre-COVID times. This fact alone has caused fair management to reconsider the lineup that has been on sale since last November.

“Unfortunately, we cannot offer pit or VIP loft tickets this year,” said Danny Aguilar, assistant general manager. The track area will be set up with 222 pods seating 888 ticket holders comprising groups of four seats arranged for adequate separation from other pods. Track seats can only be purchased in groups of four. Ticket buyers looking for two, four or six seats will have choices in the stadium bleacher and grandstand areas. In the bleacher and grandstand areas, every other row has been taken out of service and two empty chairs must be preserved between ticket-buying parties.

“Fair leadership and management genuinely appreciate the advice we were able to receive from the Department of Public Health” said Bill DiMondi, fair general manager. “Unfortunately, the six largest shows on sale until this week have to be canceled because they were not compatible with the COVID-19 mandated lowered capacity of only 2,500 sellable seats for each concert and 1,500 seats for our wheel events like the demo derby and monster truck show.”

Due to the downsizing of all seating areas, the fair announced that refunds are being made to all patrons who purchased tickets directly from the fair for the Roots and Boots show scheduled for Saturday, June 12, in the Quillen Arena and all fairtime shows that were on sale up until this week.

While the new lineup going forward does not contain fan favorites Sam Hunt, TobyMac, Tedeschi Trucks Band, I Love the 90s Tour and Hank Williams Jr., the new lineup is shaping up to include the following:

• Monster Truck Show Thursday, July 22
• Blippi, The Musical, a preschooler favorite, with two show time options at 3 and 6 p.m., Friday, July 23
• Lauren Alaina with Maddie & Tae Saturday, July 24
• Demolition Derby presented by Taylor and Messick Sunday, July 25
• Riley Green headlining his own show Monday, July 26
• Tracy Byrd and Jo Dee Messina Tuesday, July 27
• Hardy with Jon Langston Wednesday, July 28
• Harness racing will be Thursday, July 29
• Friday, July 30 still open
• Contemporary Christian artists Zach Williams and Stephen Stanley presented by the Bridge Saturday, July 31.

Ticket sales for the new lineup will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m., Wednesday April 21, at delawarestatefair.com.