York Fair officials decided to make lemonade out of lemons.
Specifically, they decided to take the news that teen pop singer Cody Simpson was dropping out of a Sept. 17 show with fellow tweenage sensation Greyson Chance and turn it into a free concert featuring Chance.
The national "Waiting 4 U Tour" has featured the two young singers, but with Simpson out, fair president Gene Schenck said he decided it wasn't fair to make people pay to see only half of what was promised.
Instead, a free concert will be held Sept. 17 at the Toyota Grandstand Concert, as Chance, 13, agreed to do a solo show. Refunds will be given to those who already bought tickets. Free seating is on a first come, first served basis.
Schenck said the decision added even more free entertainment to the fair's offerings.
"We've had more free entertainment (scheduled) at the fair than there's even been," he said.
Chance became famous in April 2010 when his sixth-grade music festival performance of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" got 40 million Youtube views. He since has released a debut single, "Waiting Outside the Lines," and his current single is "Unfriend You."
Now Schenck hopes Chance takes advantage of a huge York crowd all there for him.
"If he becomes as big as Justin Bieber one day, maybe he'll remember who we are," Schenck said with a laugh.
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