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A rigorous game of stickball is demonstrated at last year’s fair.
Andrews – From Ferris wheels to funnel cakes, the 2023 Cherokee County Fair returns from Oct.13-15 for its second year in Valleytown. Advance ticket sales are available now.
This year, a great selection of rides, including a Ferris Wheel, will transform Heritage Park into a midway. An extra day has been added for all the fun.
Fair coordinator Chasity Ledford described what to expect this year.
“The Andrews Recreation Department parking lot will headquarter the food trucks. The bands will be on the main stage,” she said. “We’re going to spread vendors throughout the park this year. They paved the trail from the recreation department to Heritage Park just recently, so you can take that to Heritage, and that’s where everything is.”
One of the fair’s aims is to bring together different aspects of Appalachian culture. Many of this year’s activities and demonstrations have an educational flavor, including glass blowing, basket weaving and stickball games.
Popular regional crafts will be on sale. Not only will Andrews’ unofficial fleet of food trucks be on hand, traditional fair foods like funnel cakes will be available.
Again this year, the Andrews Opry stage will be alive with the sound of music. Ledford said country musician Zack Top is this year’s headliner. Other entertainment will include Zeb Ross and the J. Creek Cloggers, Appalachian Smoke Bluegrass, The Steve Jordan Band and The Danny Dawson Band.
A dirt track simulator will be set up near the stage, and a beer garden is nearby.
Ledford said golf carts will be on rotation to shuttle people who need extra help getting from their parking spot to the fair. Speaking of comfort, bringing a blanket or chairs from home is recommended to best enjoy the live entertainment.
Fair hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. all three days. Fireworks are at 10 p.m. Saturday.
Fair admission is $10 for ages 18 and over; $5 for ages 65 and up; $5 for ages 6-17; ages 5 and under get in free. Family packs are available.
Ride tickets will be available at the fair’s ticket booths for $1 each. Each ride requires 3-6 tickets. For 25 ride tickets, the cost is $24. The cost for 50 ride tickets is $48. All-day wristbands are $25 per day.
Details: cherokeecountyncfair.org, Cherokee County NC Fair on Facebook.