N.C. Mountain State Fair set for Sept. 7-16
Get ready for ‘Full Throttle Fun’ in the mountains!
Time to mark your calendars and buy tickets to the 2007 N.C. Mountain State Fair coming to the WNC Ag Center in Fletcher Sept. 7-16. “Full Throttle Fun” will be the theme for the 14th annual fair, and organizers have lined up more music, more fun and lots of new sights for this year’s fair.
“We’re putting the final touches on preparations, and I’m excited about the additions we are bringing to the 2007 fair,” said Fair Manager Matt Buchanan. “We’ll have almost non-stop music in the Hospitality Tent, new grounds entertainment including a circus, a magic act centered around agriculture and a family acrobatic team. We’re also bringing back the Sandy Feat sand sculpture artists who will create a 32-ton piece of sand art during the fair.”
Premium entertainment concerts this year include Hotel California (an Eagles tribute band) on Monday, Sept. 10; Jason Michael Carroll on Tuesday, Sept. 11; Mark Wills on Ingles Day, Wednesday, Sept. 12; David Phelps on Thursday, Sept. 13; and Cherryholmes on Sunday, Sept. 16. Seats for all the premium shows are just $5 plus gate admission.
Discount advance tickets are available at Western N.C. Ingles stores through Thursday, Sept. 6, and also at the WNC Ag Center and the WNC Farmers Market.
The fair will again celebrate Ingles Day on Wednesday, Sept. 12, where a contribution of five cans of Laura Lynn brand canned food from Ingles can be exchanged for a free fair admission. All food collected will be donated to the MANNA Food Bank serving Western North Carolina.
A new event for the Mountain State Fair will allow high school football fans to enjoy their games then come to the fair for some late-night entertainment. Full Throttle Frenzy will take place on the second Friday of the fair only, Sept. 14, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Special admission pricing of $15 will cover gate admission and unlimited rides from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. only. Regular gate admission of $5 will still be available to those less interested in carnival rides.
“We’ll have a special free outdoor rock concert in the open ring as part of Full Throttle Frenzy starting at 10 p.m. that will last until about midnight, and of course the Midway will stay open until 1 a.m.,” Buchanan said.
Buildings and exhibit halls will close at 10 p.m., but food vendors, rides, games and music will continue into Saturday morning. The N.C. Highway Patrol will continue to direct traffic during the expanded hours, and free shuttle service from overflow parking areas will continue as well.
Throughout the 10-day run of the Fair, kids of all ages will enjoy Agricadabra, an agricultural-themed magic show that makes its debut at the fair and features balloon art and magic. The show uses facts about N.C. agriculture to educate and entertain kids of all ages.
During the show, children can help make a “monkey in the tree” balloon, a 10-balloon creation that measures more than six feet tall that one lucky child will have the chance to take home. The show will be held daily at the north end of the G2 commercial tent.
Another featured attraction is the Farm Adventure exhibit, which lets visitors see nature’s nurturing side as animal mothers interact with their young. Visitors can expect to see pigs, ducks, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys, rabbits and even miniature donkeys.
North Carolina agricultural facts and information will be on display and kids can participate in various hands-on activities. The Farm Adventure tent will be located on Corporate Way, close to Entrance B.
A complete daily schedule, a breakdown of the various competitions, maps and more activities are available at www.mountainfair.org. Additional information is available by calling the fairgrounds at (828) 697-1414.
