For almost a quarter century, hungry Kentucky State Fair attendees could count on a hearty fried fish meal–and ongoing musical entertainment–at the huge tent in the front of the exhibition halls run by Mike Linnig’s restaurant, 9308 Cane Run Rd. But not this year. Mike Linnig’s has decided not to participate as a vendor at the 2015 State Fair.

The restaurant notified their legions of fans via a Facebook post that cited the busy spring and summer season at the riverfront restaurant in Southwest Jefferson county as reason for their deciding to forgo the very busy two weeks of additional service at the fair. “It was not an easy decision to make,” the post said,  but we decided that we needed to sit this one out this year.”

Despite the absence of Linnig’s fish offerings, there should be no problem in quieting hunger pangs at the Fair, which opens August 20. There is no word yet of any preposterous new fried food choices this year, but our bet is that the Krispy Kreme donut hamburger will be back for a reprise.