Cabarrus County Fair Facts
Dates: September 11-19, 2015
Location: Cabarrus Arena and Events Center (4751 NC-49, Concord)
2015 Fair hours: Weekdays from 4-11 p.m.; Saturdays from 1-11 p.m.; and Sunday from 1-10 p.m.
2015 Fair theme: Share the Fair
Fair website: www.cabarruscountyfair.com
Fair Facebook: www.facebook.com/cabarruscountyfair
Fair Twitter: @cabarrusfair
Video from 2014 Fair
2015 Gate Specials (rides not included):
Saturday, September 12 – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Free General Gate Admission for all from 1 p.m.-3 p.m., only.
Sunday, September 13 – Cooperative Christian Ministries Canned Food Drive
Free General Gate Admission for all from 1-3 p.m. with any brand of four canned food items per adult and two canned food items per child.
Tuesday, September 15 – School Education Night
Receive $1 off General Gate Admission when you show off your school spirit by wearing your favorite grade school to college attire.
Thursday, September 17 – Salute to Seniors Night
Admission price of $4.30 for seniors ages 65 and older from 4-6 p.m., only. Price includes sales tax.
Catch the Fair for free on Fridays
Present your high school football ticket stub at the gate after the game on Friday, September 11 and 18, only, and get free gate admission for the corresponding evening.
Advanced online ticket purchases (now -September 10): The public can purchase discounted tickets and ride wristband vouchers online at a reduced rate through September 10. The tickets are available online atwww.cabarruscountyfair.com or at the Arena Box office (704-920-3976, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.). Click on the Tickets tab. Advance adults admission tickets for ages 12-64 are $5.35—a $2 savings off the gate price, kids ages 6-11 are $3.25. (Prices include tax.) Purchase advance ride wristband vouchers for $15—a $5 savings.
IMPORTANT information about 2015 Contest entries: The Cabarrus County Fair has published its 2015 Fair Catalog. Contests include photos, scrapbooks, fruits and veggies, cakes, pies, quilts, Lego creations, kids craft projects, jewelry, painting, flowers and more. One adult and one youth will walk away with the Best of Show award and will compete in the North Carolina State Fair Best of Show contest, which comes with a $500 prize. Other contests and livestock shows include the Fair Pageant; Make it with Wool Contest; and mini horse, horse, mule and donkey, sheep, goat, dairy and beef shows. Access the 2015 Fair Catalog online atwww.cabarruscountyfair.com. Click on the Exhibits tab to view a drop-down menu for the various forms, contests, programs and other entry opportunities. All 2015 Fair contest entries are due to the Fair Office by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26.
Onsite ticket prices: General Gate admission to the fair are $7.50 for ages 12-64, $5.35 for ages 65+ and those with military ID, $3.25 for ages 6-11 and ages 5 and younger are admitted free. Parking is free. All transactions at the Fair are cash only. ATMs are located at the main gate and throughout the midway, but do carry a surcharge.
Shuttle service: Cabarrus County Transportation Service (CCTS) provides complimentary parking lot shuttle van service for the satellite parking lots during the weekends. Satellite parking lots are only operational on weekends and CCTS vans run at specified hours.
2015 Shuttle Van Service Schedule:
Saturday, September 12, 12 p.m.-12 a.m.
Sunday, September 13, 12 p.m.-12 a.m.
Friday, September 18, 6 p.m.-12 a.m.
Saturday, September 19, 12 p.m.-12 a.m.
Entertainment: There’s plenty of Fair just beyond the midway. The Cabarrus County Fair features a petting zoo, livestock displays, sand castle carving, milking booth and educational exhibits. Live performances include local bands, Master of the Chainsaw, Robinson’s Racing Pigs, K9’s in Flight and The Magic of Lance Gifford & Company. Watch live demonstrations from local beekeepers, Master Gardeners, wood turners, and stop by the open forge fire for sustainable living demonstrations and view local farm equipment on display. Seewww.cabarruscountyfair.com for entertainment details.
The New 103.7 Stage performances:
Monday-Friday, 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 12, 1:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 13, 1:45 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 19, 8:30 p.m.
State ban on bird shows: The Cabarrus County Fair is following the State ban of live bird shows due to the highly pathogenic avian flu. The Fair’s livestock displays and shows will not include poultry. For more information on the ban, visit www.ncagr.gov/avianflu.
Background: The Cabarrus County Agricultural Fair began in 1953. The 2014 Cabarrus County Fair received 20 awards form the International Association of Agricultural Fairs and Expos (IAFE) and three awards from the North Carolina Association of Agricultural Fairs. The Cabarrus County Fair also received recognition with two Best of Division awards from the IAFE for marketing and youth programming and Supreme Champion award for youth programming efforts. In 2014, the Cabarrus County Fair Annual Food Drive collected 16,907 pounds of food for Cabarrus County food pantries.