Kim Fundingsland/MDN Although it is early in the boating season, it appears that the combination of cool weather and coronavirus concerns has kept some boat owners away from State Parks marinas. The marinas opened May 9-10. This photograph was taken at Lake Sakakawea State Park on May 10.

The effect of the coronavirus will, at the very least, last well into the summer. Cancellations have already occurred for fairs, festivals, fishing tournaments, summer camps and numerous other events and the list continues to grow.

Early casualties among major events in Minot credited to the coronavirus pandemic were the Hostfest, a major international Scandinavian festival scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 3, and one of the biggest sportsmen’s banquets in the state – the Pheasants for the Future night scheduled for this past March 20.

Earlier this year the North Dakota Game and Fish Department cited coronavirus concerns in revoking all fishing tournament permits for April and May. The paddlefish snagging season set to open May 1 was canceled too, another indicator of what would follow.

The North Dakota State Fair, the biggest of them all in the state, announced that the threat of coronavirus was too much to overcome and canceled for 2020. Among the area county fairs that had previously announced cancellations were Wells County, McLean County and Bottineau County. All of the fairs bring with them substantial financial impact to their locales.

Last Friday Pierce County became the latest area county fair to pull the plug on 2020. That fair was scheduled for June 25-28 but, ultimately, directors followed the lead of several other fairs, large and small, in making the decision to cancel for this year.

Also last Friday the state’s largest fishing tournament, the Governor’s Walleye Cup hosted by Garrison and Fort Stevenson State Park, was canceled. It was to have been held July 17-18.

“Everybody knew they had to do it,” said Joyce Pfliger, director, Garrison. “We’re really disappointed. We all are. Even though it’s a lot of work we look forward to it and know the effect it has on Garrison. It’s kind of depressing actually but we knew we had to do it.”

The Governor’s Walleye Cup joins numerous other fishing tournaments that have canceled 2020 events, including the hugely popular Devils Lake Chamber Tourney that annually draws several hundred fishermen. The annual New Town Chamber of Commerce fishing tournament has been canceled as well.

The list of canceled fishing tournaments is a lengthy one. Game and Fish, which issues permits for fishing tournaments in the state, has announced they will not be allowing any alternative dates to make up for cancellations.

Summer camps have not been immune to coronavirus either. Camps such as Metigoshe Ministries and Camp of the Cross scrambled to re-arrange early season schedules before finally canceling big chunks of the calendar.

Camp of the Cross, located on Lake Sakakawea, has canceled all their June events with the hope that some normalcy will return to the camp for July. But there’s some alternations too. An example is the camp’s Prairie Lake Festival fundraiser set for June 20th at Garrison High School. This year it will be a virtual festival and auction.

At the Metigoshe Ministries camp near Bottineau all the day camps set for May 25-29 and the first session of summer camp, June 7-14, have been canceled. According to the Metigoshe Ministries website, the earliest hoped for date possible for “on site” campers is June 14. However, cautions Metigoshe Ministries, all special summer events have been postponed indefinitely. Those postponements include the scheduled June 27 dedication of their Christian Center expansion.

Triangle Y Camp has not escaped coronavirus concerns either. Several June sessions have been canceled at Y Camp on Lake Sakakawea’s Douglas Bay but, as of Monday, the camp hoped to conduct camp sessions scheduled for July and later.

With school closures due to coronavirus and the resulting cancellation of spring sports, there is at least some organized opportunity for young competitors. A few area school trapshooting teams have begun practicing and will post official scores.

“We have until June 24 to have all rounds shot,” said Wayne Stanley, South Prairie shooting coach. “We won’t have a state shoot but we will have a “Best in the West” shoot for high school teams on June 27 at the Minot Gun Club.”

The USA Clay Target League, the governing body for high school trapshooting, had earlier announced they were canceling their national event in Mason, Michigan July 8-12.

North Dakota State Parks are allowing camping but with certain changes in effect. Those changes vary from park to park but all special events have been canceled until further notice. Equipment rentals, such as kayaks and bicycles, will be specific to each park. All State Parks buildings will remain closed at least until Memorial Day weekend and will begin opening when possible during the summer.