GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The good news is the severity of COVID-19 has been dramatically reduced in the past year. While that should help drive ticket sales for the Clay County Agriculture Fair, it created a lot of challenges for the organization to create its seven-night music lineup.

Restrictions have been reduced or eliminated in most countries, and that’s pushed headlining bands on tours of Europe, Fair Executive Director Tasha Hyder said. And now that people are eager to leave their lockdowns, many bands also have significantly hiked their fees.

“Difficult is an understatement,” Hyder said. “The world is opening up after COVID. Bands that used to be available during our fair are now on tours.”

Hyder still is pleased with this year’s lineup. Niko Moon returns after a successful appearance last year, while Tracy Lawrence with Cumberland, Casting Crowns, Shane Profitt, Ashley McBryde and Brotherly Love also highlight the schedule.

Fair organizers asked their fans to suggest acts they wanted to see, and from that, Lily Rose and Cooper Alan were added to the lineup.

Cooper will open for Niko Moon on March 31; Rose will play with McBryde on April 4.

The fair opens on March 30 and runs through April 9.

“We really do listen to feedback,” Hyder said. “People don’t think we do but we really do. If you’re going to ask you need to listen because they’re telling you what they want. We can’t always fulfill all the requests and make everyone happy, but we do try to try to listen, the best we can.”

Hyder said that also means offering a variety of genres. She shifted from a country music-heavy showcase to acts that feature rap, rock, country and Christian music a few years ago.

“The lineup was very challenging, but we’re very proud of what we were able to come up with,” Hyder said.

“We have our Christian act. We have X AMBASSADORS. We have old country, new country. So yeah, we’re still hanging tight with our diverse lineup and some of them we did this year,” Hyder said.

VIP packages are available for as many as 350 fans for every show. The price of a ticket also is good for main gate admission to the fairgrounds.

To see the complete schedule and buy tickets, visit claycountyfair.org.