N.C. Mountain State Fair runs Sept. 5-14
FLETCHER - The N.C. Mountain State Fair celebrates its 15th season and as implied by this year’s theme, “Best in the West,” there will be plenty of blue ribbon fun, family entertainment on tap Sept. 5-14.
Visitors can check out the livestock competitions, cheer on their favorite racing pig, see crafters creating one-of-a-kind works of art, look at the winning entries in the arts and crafts competitions, enjoy delicious food and spin around on Midway rides. And that’s just for starters. Whether you’re looking for fast-paced fun or low-key entertainment, the Mountain State Fair offers plenty to see and do.
New attractions for 2008 include:
- Cowboy mounted shooting demonstrations Sept.12-14,
- Rusty’s Trailblazing Chuckwagon show. A special Dutch oven cooking class will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 3:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Bear Mountain Wildlife show, featuring bears performing circus-like tricks,
- IGX interactive game experience, which gives visitors a chance to play the latest video games from Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation 3 and Microsoft Xbox, and
- An Agricadabra magic show focused on eating healthy North Carolina agricultural foods.
Folks who enjoy the Farmer for a Day tent will find an expanded display this year featuring even more animals plus demonstrations of working border collies. It will be held Sept. 8-11, at 4 and 7 p.m. and Sept. 12-14, at 11 a.m., and 2, 5 and 8 p.m.
Antique tractor and farm equipment will be on display in the Heritage Area of the fairgrounds. The popular Mountain Music Competition will also be held in the Heritage Area Sept. 5-13 from 7-9 p.m.
On Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. the FFA Truck and Tractor Driving Contest will be held in the open ring near McGough Arena.
McGough Arena will host a great lineup of local and nationally recognized performers. The toe-tapping entertainment kicks off Sept. 5 from 5-7 p.m. and Sept. 6 from 6-9 p.m. with the Clogging Championship. The high-energy performances get many in the crowd on their feet and clapping their hands. Admission is free.
On Sept. 9, up-and-coming Nashville star Chuck Wicks will perform his first hit single, “Stealing Cinderella,” and the follow–up, “All I Ever Wanted” off his debut album, “Starting Now.”
The Bellamy Brothers will perform Sept. 10. The duo has released more than 40 albums during a 30-year career and has recorded 14 number one hits, including the mega-hit, “If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold it Against Me.”
Sept. 11, the blended harmonies of the all-female Christian group Point of Grace will fill McGough Arena. Point of Grace has been nominated for two Grammys and is the winner of eight Gospel Music Association Dove awards.
Rhonda Vincent, the seven-time International Bluegrass Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year, will bring her electrifying and distinct sound on Sept. 14.
The cost for the Sept. 9, 10, 11 and 14 shows is $5 per person plus admission to the Fair. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fairgoers can gain free admission and help a good cause on Ingles Day Sept. 10. Visitors who donate five cans of Laura Lynn brand foods from Ingles Supermarkets will receive free admission.
Other special promotions are:
- Student Free Admission Day on Sept. 5, where students in grades K-12 are admitted free until 6 p.m.,
- Armband Days Sept. 8 and Sept. 11, where visitors can ride from 4-11 p.m. for $15,
- Friday Night Stampede on Sept. 12 from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m., where admission and a ride armband are $15,
- Senior Day on Sept. 12, with free admission to seniors 65 and over.
Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for kids 6-12 and seniors 65 and older. For more on the Mountain State Fair go to www.mountainfair.org or call (828) 687-1414.
