NC Mountain State Fair opening day finds new rides, farm animals, WNC traditions

Will Hofmann, Asheville Citizen Times
·4 min read

FLETCHER - The multi-colored chairlift ride over the WNC Agricultural Center can only mean one thing — the fair is back.

The 29th annual N.C. Mountain State Fair opened at 9 a.m. Sept. 8, bringing rides, fair foods and Western North Carolina traditions back to Fletcher. The fair will run through Sept. 17.

During the grand opening ceremony, N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler noted the predicted good weather and and hoped for a record attendance year.

"We hope everybody will come out. I would love to see a record crowd this year," Troxler said.

Troxler also noted the fair's emphasis on safety for the 2023 fair.

"We want you to go home safe," Troxler said. "So please obey all the law enforcement and the signs you see on the fairgrounds. But, most of all, have a really good time."

More: NC Mountain State Fair to open at Ag Center: What to know about prices, hours, rides, more

Opening morning rides, attractions

Sept. 8 was student day, meaning students grades K-12 got in free before 6 p.m.

By 11 a.m., Enka High School senior Ben Koubanyuk had already been on two of the most intense rides at the fair. His school had arranged to take the seniors for student day if 95% of their class took the ACT.

"I'm actually really looking forward to more of the rides," Koubanyuk said. "I'm here for the rides."

By 11 a.m. Koubanyuk had tried out "Jekyll and Hyde" and the fair's newest ride "Sub-Zero." Koubanyuk called both "intense," but noted that "Jekyll and Hyde" was scarier for its height and the extreme turns passengers make during the ride.

Another huge attraction for the fair is its wide variety of livestock and petting zoos.

At Holly View Farm's stand, three baby goats, Sguiggle, Splat and Boogie were all born within the past week and now grazing at the fair.

As for their names, Abbie Gant said she just "wants them to be funny."

"The brown one is named 'Boogie' because he always looks like he's dancing," Gant said.

George Yoho, 5, waves to his parents, Emily and Andy, as he flies by on a ride at the NC Mountain State Fair, September 8, 2023.
George Yoho, 5, waves to his parents, Emily and Andy, as he flies by on a ride at the NC Mountain State Fair, September 8, 2023.

More: Buncombe TDA approves $22.9M for McCormick Field, largest investment in its history

Fair workers find their fun

For those who are not thrill-seekers, fair games offer an alternative.

Michael Rollins runs the fair game "Hoops," where fairgoers shoot a basketball into a hoop.

Before the fair picks up around 6-12 p.m., Rollins says that his main way to see who might want to play is to look at their shoes.

"Shoes say a lot about who shoots, who wants to play and who actually is decent at basketball," Rollins said. "A lot of people that actually play ball wear their basketball shoes wherever they go."

Another part of "Hoops" is where Rollins, even when someone might air ball, will always respond with positive energy.

"I always give encouragement. I never discourage or tell them it was a bad shot," Rollins said.

Stephen Spencer, who runs "Prize Factory," said part of the experience is understanding the crowd, where he'll call fairgoers in to play.

People take in the sights on the opening day of the NC Mountain State Fair, September 8, 2023.
People take in the sights on the opening day of the NC Mountain State Fair, September 8, 2023.

"If there is a couple holding hands, I'll yell to the guy and say: 'She needs to hold something other than your hands!'" Spencer said. "'She needs a stuffed animal for when you are away!'"

Spencer said many play his game looking to win big — as in walka way with a huge stuffed Baby Yoda or Hello Kitty.

While not many win the biggest prize often, Spencer said one of the best parts of the job is having fun at nighttime when the crowd picks up.

"You might not walk away with a prize here, but you will walk away with a smile," Spencer said.

More: Deliciously odd foods to devour at the 2021 N.C. Mountain State Fair

Weekend details

Tickets

You can purchase tickets online at wnc.agcenter.org, or purchase tickets at the fair gates. Tickets are $12 for adults, $7 for children, and $5 for those 65 and older. Admission for children age 5 or younger is free.

Hours

  • Weekends: Fair opens at 9 a.m. and rides open at 10 a.m. Fair buildings will close at 10 p.m. and rides will close at midnight.  Fair rides close at 11 p.m. on the first Sunday.

  • Weekdays: Fair opens at 3 p.m. and rides open at 4 p.m. Fair buildings will close at 10 p.m. and rides will close at 11 p.m.

Fair events

While there are many events going on every day during fair hours, here’s a few to highlight from the fairs first four days:

  • Sept. 9: Mountain Music, 6 p.m. at the Heritage Stage.

  • Sept. 10: Mountain Music, 2 p.m. at the Heritage Stage.

  • Sept. 11: Pork Cooking Contest, 7 p.m. at the Chevrolet/Davis Event Center.

Historic Photos: NC Mountain State Fair at the WNC Ag Center in Fletcher over the years

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com. 

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: NC Mountain State Fair opens at WNC Ag Center in Fletcher