For the first time in modern history, London’s Western Fair will be closed to the public for two full weekdays during its traditional fall run. The fair will open earlier on weekends to make up some of the hours.

“We don’t anticipate a reduction in numbers,” Kris Dinel, fair manager, said Tuesday. “I think we will stay on pace.”

The fair will be closed to the public but open for school tours on Monday Sept. 12 and Tuesday Sept. 13.

The closings reflect the reality of everyday life for Londoners and the competitive entertainment market in the city, especially this fall, Dinel said.

“Monday and Tuesday are the always the slowest days,” he said.

With school back in full swing, hockey tryouts and other activities on, many parents can’t make it out to the fair on the early weekdays, he said.

By Wednesday evening, traffic picks up as families get their week in order.

“People come out of that fog a bit,” Dinel said.

This year, the fair also faces some tough competition for entertainment dollars. The first three days of the fair run at the same time as Country Music Week and capped by the Canadian Country Music Association Awards, being held in London this year.

The last two days of the fair run the same time as the first airshow held in the city in 12 years, Air Show London.

“There is definitely a lot going on in our community,” Dinel said.

The fair is hoping to bring about 2,000 school children through the agricultural exhibits the days the fair is closed to the public. The fair doesn’t collect money for those visits.

Over the years, the Western Fair has run five days, six days and 10 days, Dinel said.

“This cyclical activity is just related to what is happening in the market and other entertainment in our community,” he said.

It’s common in the industry for longer fairs to avoid weekdays, Dinel said.

“I’m sure someone could read into this something somewhat negative,” he said but added attendance numbers have stayed steady the past 10 years.

Attendance at the fair was slightly more than 170,000 in 2013, fell to about 155,000 during a rainy fall in 2014 and rose back up to just more than 170,000 last year.

Dinel said he understands some Londoners will be disappointed by the changes.

“There is a lot of opportunity for people to come to the fair.”

The Western Fair will evaluate the Monday and Tuesday closings to determine if it should become a permanent change, he said.

rrichmond@postmedia.com

WESTERN FAIR HOURS

Fair runs Sept 9-18

Sept. 12 and 13: closed

Saturday and Sundays: Opening at 10 a.m., instead of 11 a.m.