SKOWHEGAN — Families planning to attend the Skowhegan State Fair this year don’t have to worry about the stage collapsing as one did at the Indiana State Fair over the weekend.

That’s because there won’t be a stage.

The 80-by-80-foot portable platform — used only twice this year — was moved Sunday night to a spot behind Constitution Hall, at the edge of the fairgrounds, where it will sit until next August.

“We had bands here for the tribute (to the troops) Thursday night and we left it here for Sunday night; we had a battle of the bands,” fair vice president Melvin Blaisdell said Tuesday. “Now we’re done with it for the year; we won’t use it again until next year.”

The concrete pad the stage sat on is used for demolition derbies.

Five people were killed Saturday and dozens injured at the state fair in Indiana when high winds toppled stage rigging before a scheduled concert by country duo Sugarland, the Associated Press reported.

The National Weather Service estimated winds at 60 to 70 mph. Video shows the steel scaffolding giving way, sending a heavy bank of stage lights and metal onto fans closest to the outdoor stage, according to CNN.com.

The Indiana fair reopened Monday with a memorial service.

Blaisdell said the tragedy in Indiana could not happen in Skowhegan.

“It’s on wheels,” he said of the Skowhegan stage. “We just pull it over with a pickup truck. The difference between this one and the one that fell down is that at the Indiana State Fair is they had all the speakers and lighting hung up from the top.

“This one here’s just canvas — we don’t have a solid roof on ours. If the wind blows that, it’ll rip the canvas. A guy might get slapped in the face with the canvas, but other than that, nothing.”

Blaisdell said when bigger names from Nashville, such as Confederate Railroad, which performed in 2009, come to the Skowhegan fair, the speakers and lighting go on risers on each side of the stage. The grandstand, built in 1999 after fire destroyed the original wooden one, is made of concrete and steel and is open on four sides so the wind can blow straight through, he said.

“Anything can happen, but it probably wouldn’t with that type of stage,” he said. “Anytime we have shows like that on the stage we have the fire department there, we have ambulance there and the sheriff’s office. If there’s an emergency (fairgoers) would be directed to the infield, that great big field. All of us — 15 or 20 employees — of course would be there anyway, anytime there’s a show.”

The Skowhegan fair runs through Sunday.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com