Memorial Day Watchfire canceled at NYS Fairgrounds for 2nd year in a row Updated May 05, 2021; Facebook Share The annual Memorial Day Weekend event known as Watchfire has been canceled at the New York State Fairgrounds for the second year in a row. The Vietnam Veterans of America Central New York Chapter 103 announced on its website that the 2021 Watchfire will not take place due to New York state Covid-19 guidelines. “As an admittedly poor substitute for the live Watchfire experience at the New York State Fairgrounds, we have dusted off the Watchfire videos from 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2019 and posted them (online),” the website said. “It is hoped that watching the videos of Watchfires past will evoke feelings of gratitude and respect for all Veterans of the American Armed Forces who died while in the service of their country.”