17th Annual Mountain State Fair runs Sept. 10-19

The N.C. Mountain State Fair is a western North Carolina tradition marking its 17th year of family-friendly entertainment.

The food, fun and mountain heritage returns to the Western N.C. Ag Center in Fletcher Sept. 10-19.

The Virginia C. Boone Mountain Heritage Center and the Livestock Exhibition Building will house the finest crafts, handmade goods, art-work and horticulture products that western N.C. has to offer.

In addition, residents from across the region will arrive with their best livestock in tow in hopes of winning a coveted blue ribbon in one of the numerous livestock competitions.

Fairgoers will find plenty of thrilling rides from the mild to the wild, with the return of fan favorites like the Enterprise, the Seattle wheel and the chairlift, which stretches from one end of the midway to the other and provides a bird’s eye view.

New to the fair this year will be live music on the Bojangles Music Stage, which will host 30 local and regional bands daily. The stage will be outdoors and centrally located on the fairgrounds. All performances will be free for fairgoers with paid admission.

McGough Arena will host country music star Chuck Wicks on Wednesday, Sept. 15, and Christian musical groups The Oxendines and This Hope on Thursday, Sept. 16.

Tickets for each show are specially priced at $15 for adults and $8 for children and seniors, and will include admission to the fair.

The Heritage Stage will continue to host Mountain Music and Bluegrass each night as the Mountain Music Competition returns to the fair. The competition gives local musicians and bands much needed exposure as well as the chance to open for contemporary bluegrass musician John Cowan.

Cowan, the former lead singer of the New Grass Revival, a band he formed with contemporary bluegrass and folk music greats Sam Bush, Bela Fleck and Pat Flynn, will perform on the Bojangles Music Stage on Sunday, Sept. 19. Cowan’s performance is also free with paid fair admission.

Mountain State Fair discounted advance tickets are on sale at the WNC Ag Center, at the WNC Farmers Market and at western N.C. Ingles supermarkets.

Tickets are also available online at www.mountainfair.org. Advance ticket sales will end Sept. 9. To learn more about the N.C. Mountain State Fair, visit www.mountainfair.org or call (828) 687-1414.

You can also become a Facebook fan of the fair at www.facebook.com/ncmountainfair.