N.C. Mountain State Fair runs Sept. 9-18
The Western N.C. Ag Center in Fletcher will come alive with the sights, sounds and delicious smells of the N.C. Mountain State Fair Sept. 9-18. This annual event showcases agriculture and Western N.C. crafting and musical traditions, set against the backdrop of carnival rides, games and food.
Agriculture takes center stage with a number of educational exhibits on the grounds, including Farmer Bill’s Ag-Venture, where visitors can see piglets hanging out with their mom and baby ducks navigating a water slide, and the Mooternity Ward, where calves are expected to be born each day. Other agricultural exhibits include the Agricadabra magic show, a mobile dairy classroom where visitors can learn about the milking process, and a display of farm animals.
Young and old alike will show livestock in competitions during the Mountain State Fair, with shows for meat goats, beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, dairy goats, rabbits, poultry and llamas.
Music, crafts, family entertainment and roving acts will round out the lineup of fun for fairgoers. On the extreme side, Moto Maniacs features daredevil motorcycle stunts and acrobatic feats, the USA Extreme Breaking Team is a high-flying martial arts act that visitors won’t want to miss, and the Kenya Safari Acrobats will amaze with their balancing, acrobatic, tumbling and dance routines.
Other entertainment includes the laugh-out-loud fun of a comedy hypnotist, the Vegas-style illusion and magic show and musical performances by Leon Jacobs Jr. All grounds entertainment is free with paid fair admission.
Fair hours are Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 a.m, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to midnight, first Sunday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and second Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Advance tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for kids 6 to 12 and senior citizens 65 and older, or $9 and $5 at the gate. Go to www.wncagcenter.org for more information.
A number of special promotions and days are planned for the Mountain State Fair. On Friday, Sept. 9, there will be free gate admission until 6 p.m. for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Seniors 65 and older will be admitted free on Friday, Sept. 16. Both Fridays there will be a special Friday Night Frenzy promotion where admission and unlimited rides is $25.
On Sept. 12 and Sept. 15, visitors can ride all day for $20 plus gate admission. On Sept. 13, kids 12 and under can ride all day for $20 plus gate admission.
Sept. 14 will be Ingles Day, where fairgoers can get in free with five cans of Laura Lynn brand foods from Ingles. Collected food will be donated to Manna Food Bank, which serves 16 counties in Western North Carolina.
Adult visitors will receive a free Scratch and Win promotional ticket Sept. 17 on N.C. Education Lottery Day.
Advance tickets can be purchased through Sept. 8 at the Ingles supermarkets, the WNC Farmers Market in Asheville and the WNC Ag Center in Fletcher.
