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EAA AirVenture was supposed to kick off this week

Posted at 8:13 PM, Jul 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-21 21:13:21-04

OSHKOSH, Wis (NBC 26) -- This week was supposed to be the kickoff to the 68th annual EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh. But, like all too many events planned for this summer, organizers decided to cancel because of the continued spread of COVID-19.

At the EAA campground, there are typically about 50-thousand people camping this week for the EAA AirVenture gathering, bringing folks together from every corner of the globe. But this year it’s completely different because not only is the gathering canceled but so is the campground.

EAA AirVenture is used to bringing about 600-thousand people to the Oshkosh area every summer and those tourists spend an estimated 170 million dollars over the course of their week-long stay there. This year however the grounds and the museum are closed. But that doesn’t mean that everyone used to heading there every year has scratched Oshkosh off as a destination stop this summer.

"You know I think the neat thing is we've seen people from all across the US still drive to Oshkosh, still fly into Oshkosh and support the local businesses they normally would. A little different scale maybe, hundreds of people, maybe a couple thousand of people. But Oshkosh is still that Mecca that they want to come to every summer and some are still actually doing it," says Kyle Ludwick the Manager of Partnership Development for EAA.

Oshkosh’s Convention and Visitors Bureau's Executive Director says many people who are used to making their annual trip to Oshkosh are still showing up just to take in some of the less familiar sights the region has to provide.