That is such a rotten shame, HH, and my heart goes out to you and all your organisers!
You're right, these fetes take a lot of time to prepare, and there are so many obstacles which get in the way before the big day - stallholders need constant cajoling for fees, someone has to do the marquee hiring, the parish council needs to be updated every three minutes - been there, designed and made the Golf-for-a-pig and lost the tombola machine, ...!
Your only chance at times like this, is to turn up in your wellies, think of England and grin and bear it, but the actual act of 'being there' is more important than anything to the village!
If/when you do get there, you'll probably win the raffle, have three pints of warm but very welcome ale in the beer tent and forget to pickup a rather ancient bottle of Old Spice on the hoopla...
Best wishes from Hawkhurst, where it's also raining felines and canines!