Established in the late 1860s, the Cumberland County Fair has been a staple event in the Fayetteville area for years, bringing entertainment and family fun for community members of all ages. Organized and hosted by the Crown Complex, this year the fun begins on Aug. 30 and runs through Sept. 8.

The fair provides a platform for exhibitors to demonstrate their talent, artistry and effort. North Carolina locals work hard and dedicate their time and energy to bringing the best to the platform and exhibitions, be it handmade sewing projects or livestock showing.

“I wish people knew how much work goes on behind the scenes to organize, host and run the fair. It’s a massive team effort that dozens of people spend weeks and weeks working on putting together – all with the goal of educating and entertaining our community,” said Madeleine Eversole, marketing director at the Crown Complex. “The educational aspect of the fair is one that our team takes seriously. We think it’s so meaningful for people to get a look at where their food and other products come from. It’s also a great reminder that there are many farmers in our community who raise crops or livestock. For many people who live in the more urban areas of our county, seeing farm animals in person is a new experience.”

The Cumberland County Fair never fails to recognize the efforts of the community with discounted admission rates on select days for military and first responders, Senior Nights and various deals throughout the course of the event. There will be a sensory friendly time during select hours. There are opportunities for the community to give back as well.

“One of the biggest donation opportunities is on A Day of Giving which will take place on Thursday, Sept. 5 and will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. Attendees can bring in six non-perishable food items in exchange for one free admission ticket to the Cumberland County Fair. We would love to collect a lot of food that we can donate back to our community on the Day of Giving. It also gives the community a chance to enjoy the fair for a highly reduced rate,” said Eversole.

The Cumberland County Fair features a host of exciting events every night. In addition to the midway with all its food, games and rides, a full roster of talents and acts will be lighting up the stage for added fun.
“We are bringing back last year’s popular show, Ember Fire Arts, who will perform two shows nightly. Bob Bohm’s Family Entertainment will also be returning with his mix of humor, magic and variety shows. This year he will also be hosting a hula hooping contest. There will also be live music on weekends and on Labor Day. On Sundays, there will be gospel music. On nights when there isn’t a performance from a band, there will be karaoke,” said Eversole. Additions to the entertainment lineup are still being added, so there will always be something new to look forward to for attendees.

A vast array of local talent and hard work will be on display with livestock shows and arts and crafts exhibitions returning in 2024. Live-stock shows will present only the best of different breeds and an array of artisanal artwork, handicrafts, produce and much more will be on display to be judged as well.

“It’s fascinating to see the talent in our community,” said Eversole. “The 4-H members who show their animals in the livestock shows raise them, care for them and do a ton of practice to show them. It’s a really huge time commitment for young people to be ready for these shows and the dedication is so impressive.”
The importance of agriculture is easy to ignore, but it's important for the community to understand how the grocery stores fill their shelves. Events like the Cumberland County Fair emphasize agricultural education while providing days of fun for everyone to enjoy.

A Fayetteville area classic, the Cumberland County Fair is not one to be skipped this year!
“There’s something about seeing a kid clutching a snow cone that’s dying their face four different colors as their eyes light up watching the fire show that makes all of the hard work, long hours and days in the heat feel worth it,” said Eversole. “I think that’s why so many of us in the events industry love it. The moment when the gates open and we get to provide people with an escape from their everyday monotony or struggles always makes an impact. Plus, I love being able to walk down the midway from my office and grab a funnel cake or turkey leg!”

A full schedule of events is available online at www.crowncomplexnc.com/events/cumberlandcountyfair.