Fairgrounds events, revenue starting to recover from COVID-19 pandemic

MOSES LAKE — As would be expected for an event venue, the COVID-19 pandemic drastically reduced revenue at the Grant County Fairgrounds. But director Jim McKiernan said activity — and revenue — have started to increase.

With the removal of restrictions on outdoor venues due to take effect June 30, McKiernan said he’s already seeing more event bookings. People are booking events four and five months out, he said.

McKiernan reviewed finances for the first four months of the year with the Grant County commissioners Tuesday. He provided them a comparison of 2019, 2020 and the first four months of 2021.

The fairgrounds generated $329,847 in income from events in 2020. The first four months of 2021 brought in $171,005 in revenue, meaning in the first four months, the fairgrounds earned almost half of its total revenue in 2020.

Revenue is starting to come back, McKiernan said. April 2021 revenues, $121,085, were almost double April 2020, $61,801.

Fairgrounds expenses were higher than revenue in both 2019 and 2020, but the difference was a lot bigger in 2020 than 2019. Expense for 2019 was $1.2 million, compared to $901,460 in 2020. Expenses for the year to date are comparable with 2019, he said.

McKiernan said more groups are inquiring about holding events, big and small, ranging from a monster truck rally and equestrian events to quinceañeras and weddings. The fairgrounds has booked 12 events in the last two or three weeks.

Many people are rescheduling events that had to be postponed due to the pandemic, he said. He expects a lot of interest in the Grant County Fair, he said, since people will be ready to be out and about. The fair is scheduled for Aug. 17 through 21.

Commissioner Cindy Carter asked about the nonprofit groups and service organizations that traditionally operate food booths during the fair. McKiernan said all of them have expressed interest in coming back, with the exception of the youth group from Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.

However, many of the groups are having trouble finding volunteers to man the booths, he said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.