Cumberland County Fair returns Friday. Here's what to know if you're going
The annual Cumberland County Fair kicks off Friday for 10 days of rides, food, art, agricultural exhibits and fun in Fayetteville.
The fair opens at 5 p.m. Friday at the Crown Complex, 1960 Coliseum Drive, with free admission for healthcare professionals. Admission for all others is $5 for kids ages 3-12 and $10 for individuals aged 13 and older.
Ride wristbands are available on the midway for $30 a person. Individual ride tickets are also available. See the full Cumberland County Fair schedule, list of events and exhibits and the fair book at cumberlandcountyfair.org. Follow the fair on social media at Facebook.com/CCFairNC.
For the first time, the fair offers a sensory-friendly time on Monday from noon until 3 p.m. During this time, the fair will operate with limited rides, no music and no lights to allow those who need it to enjoy the fair with limited sensory stimuli.
The fair celebrates Cumberland County’s agricultural heritage and combines family fun, informative agricultural exhibits, an art show and entertainment with exciting rides and fair food.
Events happening through the week include rides, livestock shows, games, a beer garden and a daily lineup of live music. New additions at this year’s fair include a fire performer, the return of helicopter rides, freestyle motocross trick riders, magic shows, live audience participation games shows. The Cumberland County Fair Step Show and Dance Showcase and the Cumberland County Fair Pageant also return this year.
The fair food lineup includes turkey legs, corn dogs, funnel cakes and freshly squeezed lemonade. There will be more than 20 food trucks including local establishments like Kwon’s Kitchen, Tropical Sno and Bella Nonna Italian.
Exhibits Contest and Junior Livestock Shows
Junior Livestock Show dates and times are as follows:
Friday at 7 p.m.: Junior laying hen
Saturday at 1 p.m.: Market lambs
Saturday at 6 p.m.: Meat goats
Wednesday at 6 p.m.: Market hogs, feeder calf, steer show
Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.: Beef heifers
The annual Little Ewe Jump Start Livestock Clinic for children ages 2 to 4 is 5 p.m. Wednesday. The clinic provides an opportunity to learn the process and techniques of showing livestock in an effort to encourage future livestock show participation. Ribbons will be awarded.
Following the Little Ewe Livestock Clinic, the annual Livestock Show and Sale takes place. Area youth will bring into the show ring hogs, feed calves and steers for judging. Showmen are responsible for raising and working with their animals for the show. The annual auction follows the show, with proceeds benefiting the youth.
In addition to the usual special days where health care professionals, military members, first responders, and seniors get free admission, the fair is adding special admission prices on $2 Tuesday, BOGO Night, and School Kids and School Personnel Day.
In a change from past years, the Day of Giving benefits the United Way and those who bring a specified item to donate can receive free entry. On select days, the Cape Fear Valley Mobile Blood Donation unit will be on-site and offering free admission tickets to its first 50 donors.
Full 2023 Cumberland County Fair schedule
Friday:
• Opens at 5 p.m.
• Free admission for healthcare professionals
• $5 admission for kids 3 – 12
• Admission for all others: $10
Saturday:
• Opens at 1 p.m.
• $10 Admission for adults and children 3 or older
Sunday:
• Opens at 1 p.m.
• Faith and Family Day: $5 off for those who spent a church bulletin at the box office
• $5 admission for kids 3–12
• Admission for all others: $10
Monday:
• Opens at Noon
• Sensory Day from noon–3 p.m.: Limited rides with no music and no lights with regular fair operations resuming after 3 p.m.
• $10 admission for adults and children 3 and older
Tuesday:
• Opens at 5 p.m.
• $2 Tuesday when the entrance fee is $2. Unlimited ride wristbands can still be purchased separately
Wednesday:
• Opens at 5 p.m.
• BOGO Night/Senior Night when seniors get in free and there is buy one/get one admission and BOGO unlimited ride wristbands; and BOGO hotdogs, corn dogs, funnel cakes and fried Oreos at B&B Concessions
Thursday:
• Opens at 5 p.m.
• A Day of Giving, FFA Day and School Kids and School Personnel Day: Bring one of the following new items to the box office and receive one admission ticket: a six-pack of socks, a pack of T-shirts or a pack of underwear. Also, 4-H and FFA cardholders get in free. Students and school personnel tickets on this day cost $2 with school ID.
• $5 admission for adults and children 3 and older
Friday, Sept. 8:
• Opens at 5 p.m.
• $10 admission for adults and children 3 and older
Saturday, Sept. 9:
• Open at 1 p.m.
• $10 admission for adults and children 3 years of age and older
Sunday, Sept. 10:
• Opens at 1 p.m.
• Free admission for Military and First Responders with valid ID
• Admission for all others is $10.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Tickets, schedule, events at Cumberland County Fair
