Summit County Fair officials closed Friday night’s festivities 20 minutes early after two separate incidents prompted safety concerns at the Tallmadge venue.
The first incident occurred around 9:55 PM when two teenagers were observed throwing items at a barn door, prompting fair officials to close animal barns five minutes ahead of the usual 10:00 PM schedule. Shortly afterward, a group of individuals ran through the northeast section of the fairgrounds, falsely claiming someone was planning to shoot, according to a statement from the Summit County Fair Board.
Fair officials emphasized no credible threat involving firearms or violence existed.
A second, unrelated incident unfolded on the Midway at approximately 10:30 PM when a physical altercation occurred, allegedly stemming from a video challenge. One juvenile male was arrested for using a taser during the confrontation. Fair directors subsequently closed the entire event at 10:40 PM.
Summit County Sheriff’s Deputies and Tallmadge Police responded to both incidents. No injuries were reported in the statement.
As a precautionary measure, fair officials announced new restrictions on bag types for the remainder of the event, which continues through Sunday, July 27. The fair typically operates with sheriff’s deputies present throughout the six-day run.
The Summit County Fair Board expressed regret that what they described as “a small number of agitators” disrupted the family-oriented event and thanked law enforcement for their response.
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