When the Maricopa County Fair opens Friday for its April 3–12 run, families will find something big missing from the usual kid circuit. The petting zoo and pony rides, typically some of the most popular stops for younger fairgoers, are off the schedule this year. Livestock will still be on display, the midway will still be buzzing, and competitions will go on, but officials say there will be no direct public animal contact.
Karen Searle, director of the Maricopa County Fair, confirmed earlier this week that both the petting zoo and pony rides are out and that the fair will not allow “direct public animal contact,” a decision she described as being taken out of an “abundance of caution,” according to KJZZ. Searle told KJZZ the move is a direct response to public concern and is meant to protect families while the fair is in town this week.
What the Fair Will Look Like
The event is scheduled for April 3–12 at the Arizona Exposition & State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, according to the fair’s official schedule on the Maricopa County Fair. Organizers say visitors can still expect livestock exhibits, a full midway, food vendors and youth livestock competitions.
What will feel different is how close people can get to the animals. Fair officials plan to put up barriers around animal areas, add handwashing stations and post signs instructing visitors not to touch the animals, as reported by KJZZ. In other words, you can still look, just not touch.
Why Organizers Acted
The precautions trace back to last fall, when health investigators used genetic testing to link a cluster of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli illnesses to the Arizona State Fair’s petting zoo. Public records and reporting show the Maricopa County investigation documented confirmed and probable cases, most of them in children, along with multiple hospitalizations.
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health closed its inquiry in early January after tying the cases to the exhibit, according to Food Poisoning News. The outbreak also renewed warnings from public health experts about basics that sometimes get overlooked at animal venues, including having handwashing sinks with soap and monitored exits so visitors clean up on their way out.
Policy and Legal Fallout
The incident has already spilled over into the policy arena. State Sen. John Kavanagh introduced a bill this legislative session that would require petting zoos to provide handwashing stations, supervision and warning signs, as reported by Tucson.com.
On the legal side, personal-injury attorneys representing families affected by illnesses linked to the fair say they are reviewing potential cases and offering consultations, according to reporting by Pritzker Hageman.
How Families Can Stay Safer
Public health groups are using the moment to repeat some common-sense advice. They emphasize closely supervising small children around animals, avoiding pacifiers or snacks in animal areas and choosing soap-and-water handwashing stations over hand sanitizer when possible, as noted by the Arizona Public Health Association.
Before heading out, visitors can check the Maricopa County Fair for hours, ticket information and details on on-site safety features so they know what to expect when they hit the fairgrounds.
