The focus of Wayne County and the surrounding areas will shift to the Wayne County Fairgrounds for the next 10 days, as the 74th Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair opens on Thursday.
The theme for the 2023 fair, which goes through Oct. 7, is “The Best 10 Days of Fall.”
Gates open today at 4 p.m., and the Powers Great American Midway opens at 5.
For Thursday only, the fair is offering the Southern Bank Car Load Special from 4 p.m. until closing. The Car Load Special includes fair admission and carnival wristbands for up to six people for $90. To receive the Car Load Special, cars must be parked in an official Fair Grounds parking lot.
The fair features a variety of entertainment options for the entire family. The Queen of the Fair pageant is being held tonight at 7. The HOSA Spelling Bee is Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m.
Wayne UNC Health Care Senior Day is Oct. 3, and all seniors 60-years-old and older receive free admission. The annual talent shows and cheer leading competition are scheduled for Oct. 4.
Magician Grayson Matchett is performing an “Agracadabra Magic Show” each day on Center Stage. Matchett’s final show of the evening will be a comedy hypnotist show under The Pavilion.
Las Vegas juggler Michael Goudeau will perform under The Pavilion, and musician Leon Jacobs will entertain audiences for the first seven days of the fair. Stilt walker Carrie McQueen and “Rock-It,” a nine-foot-tall robot with lights and music, will be at the fair the final Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The annual demolition derby is being held at 1 p.m. on Oct. 7.
The fair will feature of number of different animal shows, beginning with the hog show on Thursday at 6 p.m. The goat show is on Sept. 29 at 6 p.m., and the lamb show is on Sept. 30 at Noon.
The endless array of food and drink options is always a popular attraction at the Wayne County Fair. Fair visitors will find everything from burgers to pizza, to Italian sausages with peppers and onions, to turkey legs. For those with a sweet tooth, don’t miss funnel cakes, fried Oreos, candy apples, cotton candy, and applejacks.
For more details on the 74th annual Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair including daily schedules, visit waynefair.com.
