BY PATRICK O’NEILL
A year after the Covid pandemic shut the gates of the North Carolina State Fair the 2021 edition of the Fair is ready to open on Thursday, Oct. 14 with hopes that fairgoers can be safe from infection despite the Department of Agriculture's decision to not require anyone to wear masks at this largely outdoor event.
The Fair will be open 11 days with the last day being on Sunday, Oct. 24.
This year's Fair theme is "Worth the Wait," and will include the usual fare of rides, games, exhibits and food. The cost of entry is $13 for an adult, $7 for children ages 5 through 12 (under 5 are free) and -- very sadly -- $5 for seniors.
Seniors No Longer Allowed Free Admission
For more than 35 years I have been going to the Fair knowing that when I turn 65 my trips to the extravaganza would be free. I turned 65 this year, and senior citizens are no longer free!
This decision, by Fair officials, is a huge mistake that probably has long-time N.C. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Jim Graham spinning in his grave. Not only is this a greedy move, it will most certainly make life far more difficult for seniors, who will now have to wait in long lines (in all kinds of weather) to purchase tickets instead of being able to walk directly into the Fair with no waiting.
Some seniors have ambulatory and balance problems that will be exasperated by this new policy. One can only hope the Department of Agriculture will see the error of its ways and revert to the "Seniors get in Free" policy of year's past.
Fair officials are going to throw seniors a bone: Tuesday Oct. 19 is Senior Citizen's Day so us old folks get in free on that day only.
Other Theme Days
Canned Food Day
Other special days include the ever-popular "Canned Food Day" on Thursday Oct. 21. Known this year as "Hunger Relief Day," anyone with six cans of food gets in free. All the cans are donated to the Food Bank of North Carolina. On Military Appreciation Day, Wednesday Oct. 20 active military get into the Fair for $8.
accessABILITY Day
On a positive note, this year's Fair will include accessABILITY Day on Sunday, Oct. 17.
"For years, our team has been brainstorming ways to make the fair more inclusive and more welcoming to all North Carolinians, regardless of ability," stated a Fair press release.
On accessABITY Day, from 8 a.m. till noon, the Fair will quiet down:
Rides and games will open at 9 a.m. and operate with no lights or music playing.
Vendors will operate with no lights or music at their booths.
Music stages will only play acoustic sets with light amplification.
The public address system will only be used for lost visitor announcements.
All-day activities on accessABILITY Day include:
A “Bandwidth Chill Out Zone” in the Graham Building with tables/chairs, low lighting and soft music playing for anyone needing a break from the busy atmosphere outside and noise cancelling headphones will be available to check out
Specially designed inclusive and/or adaptive “on the spot” competitions.
Adult changing stations in existing family restrooms as space allows, now available year-round.
Guidebooks available to download or pick up at guest services which highlight all the inclusive activities and amenities the Fair is offering.
Garner Grows Returns to the State Fair
As is the case every year, the Garner Grows Community Garden will have a lot going on at the Fair.
Despite her fears of the virus, Garner gardening stalwart, Tammy Kennedy, has already brought a lot of her competitive entries of plants, flowers and vegetables to the Fair hoping to win both ribbons and cash. While Kennedy always takes home a boatload of ribbons, any monetary winnings will be donated to Garner Grows, which is still looking for a new patch of land to set down its roots more than a year after the garden lost its home on Vandora Springs Rd. The second time Garner Grows has had to relocate in its 11-plus-year history
"We really want this to be the last time we move; it's heartbreaking, expensive and incredibly difficult in many ways," Kennedy told The Garner News.
Kennedy said Garner Grows presence at the Fair has "grown each year and the last fair in 2019 we did a ton, even having a market stall in horticulture (which we got second place for).
"We had to scale back some this year. We're hoping next year will be back to normal."
Now that Garner Grows has a lead on a new permanent location, Kennedy is ready to settle down again.
"We are so excited at the thought of being in one place again," she said. "It's still months to go before that happens but at least there's a sliver of hope now."
Be sure to check out the Fair garden and look for Garner Grows' entries, and have a good time.