County gets ready for 2005 Fair
By Turner Walston
Published in News on August 24, 2005 1:46 PM
Get ready for fireworks, funnel cakes and ferris wheel rides. The 57th Annual Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair is coming.
The fair will be Sept. 29 through Oct. 8 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. Organizers say they expect the award-winning agricultural festival to be better than ever.
The fair will again feature Power's Great American Midway, with nearly 50 rides. And for the first time in years, fireworks displays will be part of the fun.
Fair Manager Milton Ingram said fair catalogues can be picked up at the fairgrounds or at the county Cooperative Extension Office on George Street. The catalogue's contents, including a schedule of events, competitions and entertainment, can also be viewed online at www.waynefair.com.
Admission will be $6 for adults and $3 for young people who have a school pass.
Free entertainment will include Buffalo Barfield, Barnyard Express, The Almost Amazing Rex, Trouble the Magician, western gunfight shows, Hogway Speedway Races, an on-the-farm exhibit, Kidzville and a vintage farm equipment display and demonstration. On Friday and Saturday nights, fireworks will light the skies.
Fairgoers can pay $15 and ride all they want on weekdays and on Sunday. On Saturday, fairgoers can pay $10 to ride between noon and 5 p.m. and $15 to ride after 5 p.m. Tickets for individual rides will also be available.
Sunday and Monday are Bargain Days. On Sunday, Oct. 2, admission will be $1 off for anyone with a church bulletin or military identification, and rides are $12. On Monday, Oct. 3, admission will be $1 off for everyone and rides will be $10.
Daily free entertainment will include:
*Thursday, Sept. 29: Livestock Show (meat goat).
*Friday, Sept. 30: Queen of the Fair Pageant, Livestock Show (market hog) and fireworks.
*Saturday, Oct. 1: Demolition Derby, Rockin' Country Show and fireworks.
*Sunday, Oct. 2: Bargain Sunday, Lawn Tractor Pull, Hines Family Puppet Show.
*Monday, Oct. 3: Bargain Monday, Livestock Show (lamb) and ventriloquist and comedian Freddie Pierce.
*Tuesday, Oct. 4: Senior Citizens Day, Pie-Baking Contest, Salute to Senior Citizens, Livestock Show (beef heifer), Spelling Bee and Freddie Pierce.
*Wednesday, Oct. 5: Cheerleading Contest and Talent Contest (kindergarten through fifth grade).
*Thursday, Oct. 6: Talent Contest (Grades 6-12) and Livestock Show (horses and ponies).
*Friday, Oct. 7: fireworks.
*Saturday, Oct. 8: Demolition Derby, Ugly Truck Contest and fireworks.
Now in his 21st year as fair manager, Ingram said he is as excited as ever about the event, widely considered one of the best county fairs in North Carolina.
"Everything is falling into place," he said. "We're just hoping for real good weather. That's the one thing we can't control. But we've still got one of the biggest bargains around as far as family entertainment."