WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (MARCH 18, 2024)—The City of Winston-Salem’s Public Assembly Facilities Commission voted today to update the names of two buildings at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds.  The former Fairgrounds Annex (also known as the Annex Ice Rink) is becoming the Fairgrounds Arena in Winston-Salem, and the former Fairgrounds Education Building will be known as the Fairgrounds Event Center.

 

The name changes came at the request of the Marketing Subcommittee of the Public Assembly Facilities Commission and Winston-Salem Fairgrounds staff, who said the former names of the two buildings no longer reflected their expanded, year-round uses.  Overarching goals associated with the name changes are building a stronger connection to the overall functionality and branding of the buildings with the local community and enhancing the marketability of the buildings on a national level as event rental space.

 

The Fairgrounds Arena (formerly the Fairgrounds Annex) opened in 1989 to serve as an actual annex to the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial (LJVM) Coliseum, which also opened in 1989, and was sold by the City of Winston-Salem to Wake Forest University in 2013.  The Fairgrounds Event Center (formerly the Fairgrounds Education Building) opened in 1992 primarily to house the annual Fair’s competitive entry exhibits.  At that time, it was standard practice nationwide for fairgrounds to name facilities solely for their fair-related purposes without considering additional year-round uses for buildings.

 

“The former names are not representative of the current use of the two buildings. The new Arena and Event Center names much better reflect today’s uses of them as year round facilities,” Robert Mulhearn, public assembly facilities and venue manager for the City of Winston-Salem said.  “In addition, the former names also are used in other areas of our community, potentially causing confusion and diminished branding.  For example, many churches and schools have ‘annex’ buildings, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools has an Education Building located nearby on Bethania Station Road.

 

“The new names of these two key Fairgrounds rental facilities will create a stronger connection to their function and enhance our ability to market naming rights for the buildings at a later time,” Mulhearn added.  “For the foreseeable future, nothing will change associated with the two buildings other than their names.  We will continue to host events such as Thunderbirds ice hockey at the Fairgrounds Arena and will announce our summer indoor concert series this week, which also will take place there.”

 

The Arena and Event Center combined host approximately 100 events each year with more than 500,000 guests in or around the buildings. With the sale of the LJVM Coliseum, Winston-Salem Fairgrounds staff became more intentional about renting fairgrounds facilities for year-round activity.  The two renamed facilities continue to host events almost all 52 weeks of the year, including hosting multiple events in multiple venues on many weekends.  Events include concerts, trade shows, banquets, meetings, hockey, ice skating, public events, and more.

 

 

The Road to Winston-Salem has brought us to the 2024 ACC Hockey Championship at the Annex Ice Rink! The ACCHL Championship Tournament is returning for its 5th consecutive year with action-packed hockey on the ice that is home to the Carolina Thunderbirds. We’ll welcome teams from near including the hometown Wake Forest Ice Hockey, UNC, NC State and UNC Charlotte, while also welcoming teams from far including Penn State, Virginia Tech and more.

Friday February 9th Matchups:

Session 1:

11am – Penn St. vs. Rowan

1:45pm – Rider vs. Maryland

Session 2:

7:30pm – UNC vs. UNC Wilmington

10:15pm – NC State vs. Virginia Tech

Saturday February 10th Matchups:

Semifinals

3:00 pm & 6 pm

Sunday Championship Matchup: 12 PM

Tier 1 (February 9-11) Tournament Pass – PURCHASE HERE

Tier 1 Information – ACC M2 Premier Championship Tournament 2024 – Winston Salem Fairgrounds (wsfairgrounds.com)

Tier 2 (February 16-18) Tournament Pass – PURCHASE HERE

Tier 2 Information –ACC M2 Premier Championship Tournament 2024 – Winston Salem Fairgrounds (wsfairgrounds.com)

Tier 3 (March 2-4) Tournament Pass – PURCHASE HERE

Tier 3 Information – ACC M2 Premier Championship Tournament 2024 – Winston Salem Fairgrounds (wsfairgrounds.com)

 

The Carolina Classic Fair will host the Deer Park® Spring Water School Day powered by iHeartMedia on Monday, October 2. On School Day, fairgoers who bring three new and packaged school supplies each will receive free admission courtesy of Deer Park® Spring Water. All collected school supplies will be contributed to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

“School Day is one of our favorite events during the Fair each year, and we’re so happy that Deer Park Water stepped up to make the day extra special for Fair guests,” Carolina Classic Fair Director Cheryle Hartley said. “We plan to have an empty school activity bus on site at the fairgrounds to collect the school supplies. I urge everyone to come out on October 2 for free admission with three new and packaged school supplies per person and help us fill the bus!”

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools faculty, staff and students will receive free admission to the Carolina Classic Fair all day on October 2. In addition, on Deer Park Spring Water School Day, there will be performances by Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools’ students, free carousel rides until 2 p.m. and free popcorn in the Agriculture Building until 2 p.m. The day also will feature discount rides—10 rides for $20 all day.

“Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools has long benefitted from the educational and enrichment activities at the Carolina Classic Fair,” said Superintendent Tricia McManus. “With the new partnership of Deer Park hosting School Day, which will include a supply drive collection, our students, families, and educators will have increased access to tools needed to be fully engaged in learning each and every day.”

“Deer Park is thrilled to be a part of School Day at the Carolina Classic Fair, especially in this landmark year as Deer Park® celebrates its 150th anniversary,” said Grant Cowherd, Senior Brand Manager for Deer Park® Brand. “Throughout this year, we have been celebrating local traditions that have stood the test of time, just as Deer Park® Spring Water has since 1873. Supporting the Carolina Classic Fair, which has been highlighting the wonderful local traditions that make the Winston-Salem community special since 1882, seems only fitting. To have the opportunity to sponsor the first-ever School Day reflects our core values to support education and give back to the community. We couldn’t be more excited to participate in such an important day. We look forward to a day filled with joy, learning, and meaningful connections.”

The Carolina Classic Fair will take place in Winston-Salem from September 29 through October 8. New for 2023 are advance sale all-inclusive entry and unlimited rides wristbands that offer a more than 37% discount. All-inclusive weekday wristbands are $30 (savings up to $17), and weekend all-inclusive wristbands are $40 (savings up to $12).

Advance discounted entry tickets offer up to 33% savings and are $8 for adults ages 12 to 64 and $3 for children ages 6 to 11. Children 5 and under and senior adults 65 and over (ID required) are admitted to the Carolina Classic Fair for free. Early bird admission before 4 p.m. Monday through Friday is $5 for adults. Advance parking is also available for $10.

Advance entry tickets, all-inclusive wristbands and parking are available from Ticketmaster or at the Fairgrounds Box Office at 414 Deacon Boulevard in Winston-Salem.  Advance ticket sales at the Box Office end on Friday, September 29 at 8 p.m. Entry tickets purchased online are subject to a $.80 per ticket fee, and wristbands purchased online are subject to a $1.00 per wristband fee.

The Carolina Classic Fair—North Carolina’s second-largest agricultural fair—is accepting entries for a wide variety of competitive exhibits including baking, livestock, photography, art and more.  All entries must be submitted by September 1 for this year’s fair, which will take place in Winston-Salem from September 29 through October 8.

Step right up and see if you have what it takes to earn bragging rights for one of our prized blue ribbons.  Best of all, you could win a share of the more than $225,000 in prize money that we’re offering this year.

In addition to fine art, crafts, floriculture, culinary, wine, decorated holiday tree, and essay competitions—to name just some of the many categories—the Carolina Classic Fair offers a wide range of livestock competitions, including beef, dairy, sheep, lamb, and poultry categories.  Most of the livestock awards also are given in youth categories.

For more information and to access entry forms, please visit  carolinaclassicfair.com/competitive-entries.

The spotlights are on, the smell of popcorn is in the air, and 200+ pound bodies are flying in a 14′ x 20′ ring as fans cheer for their favorites, and boo (or worse) at enemies.

In anticipation of the NWA Crockett Cup at the Annex June 3-4, 2023 at the Annex, fans are looking for yet another memorable weekend of wrestling at the Fairgrounds. Past wrestling events at the Fairgrounds include Deadlock Pro Wrestling, AML Wrestling, MCW Midget Wrestling and Extreme Dwarfanators Wrestling

Fans of the NWA can look forward to a weekend full of high-energy matches and intense competition! The tournament will feature 24 of the best tag teams over two incredible nights. Tickets also include a free Fan Fest before each day! Some matches will also take place during the Fan Fest! Don’t miss your chance to see the stars of the NWA!

Fan fests will be held on Saturday and Sunday from Noon-4 p.m. with meet and greet opportunities and VIP Crocket Cup matches.  Legends scheduled to appear at fan fest include Tully Blanchard, Ronnie Garvin, Baby Doll, Ricky Morton, Sheepherder Luke, Jimmy Garvin, Demolition AX, Bobby Fulton, Brother Devon, Tommy Young and more!

The Road to Winston-Salem has brought us to the 2023 ACC Hockey Championship at the Annex Ice Rink! The ACCHL Championship Tournament is returning for its 4th consecutive year with action-packed hockey on the ice that is home to the Carolina Thunderbirds. We’ll welcome teams from near including the hometown Wake Forest Ice Hockey, UNC, NC State and UNC Charlotte, while also welcoming teams from far including Penn State, Georgetown and St. Josephs.

Friday February 10th Matchups:

#3 Rowan vs. #6 UNC Wilmington – 10:30am

#4 NC State vs. #5 Virginia Tech – 3:00pm

Saturday February 11th Matchups

#2 UNC vs. Lower Seed Winner  – 10:30am

#1 Penn State vs. Higher Seed Winer – 3:00PM

Sunday Championship Matchup TBA – 1:00PM

Tier 1 (February 10-12) Tournament Pass – PURCHASE HERE

Tier 1 Information – https://wsfairgrounds.com/event/acchl-championship-tournament-2023-3/

Tier 2 (February 17-19) Tournament Pass – PURCHASE HERE

Tier 2 Information – https://wsfairgrounds.com/event/acchl-championship-tournament-2023/

Tier 3 (March 3-5) Tournament Pass – PURCHASE HERE

Tier 3 Information – https://wsfairgrounds.com/event/acchl-championship-tournament-2023-2/

Tier 2 Matchups are to be announced, but will include the following teams:

#1 St Joseph’s

#2 West Virginia,

#3 East Carolina

#4 James Madison

#5 Denison

#6 Georgetown

#7 UNC Charlotte

#8 Wake Forest University

Tier 3 Matchups are to be announced, but will include the following teams:

Appalachian State, Elon, High Point University, William & Mary, Navy, Liberty University, Old Dominion University, Coastal Carolina

Public Ice Skating is one of the main attractions of the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. This past holiday season, over the course of the last 2 weeks of December and going into the new year, we welcomed over 6,000 skaters to skate with us. The Annex Ice Rink continues to be one of the busiest ice rinks in the state.

The fun doesn’t end when the ball drops. We continue ice skating through April with public ice skating sessions, group lessons, and you guessed it, birthday parties. Here are some of the perks of having your next Winston-Salem Birthday Party at the Annex Ice Rink:

  • Skating for up to 20 people
  • Access to our exclusive birthday party area for one hour and unlimited skating
  • Accommodations for your birthday party area including a covered table, 2 cheese pizzas, a dedicated party attendant, and 20 complimentary drinks
  • 2 push helpers
  • 2 free future skate passes for the birthday child
  • One novelty mini-hockey stick was presented the birthday child for guests to sign

Spots fill up fast! Book your party on ice with us today by calling 336-734-1594

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AUGUST 5, 2022)—The Carolina Classic Fair—North Carolina’s second-largest agricultural fair—will return September 30 through October 9, 2022.  The Carolina Classic Fair has a fresh theme for 2022:  Ridin’ Rockin’ Livestockin’ to reflect the diverse offerings available for guests.  Buy now and save up to 33% on admission tickets and up to 25% off unlimited ride vouchers.

 

Discounted admission tickets and Strates Ride vouchers are available through Ticketmaster, the Fair’s website at CarolinaClassicFair.com, the Fairground’s Box Office located in the Annex (414 Deacon Blvd, 27105, Monday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and at the new Hanes Mall Store location.  The Carolina Classic Fairground Box Office will offer extended hours the week of September 26 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) leading up to the Fair opening day.  All online advance ticket sales will end at midnight on September 29.

 

“The Carolina Classic Fair’s biggest and best savings are now available and include significant discounts on both admission tickets and ride wristband vouchers,” Carolina Classic Fair Director Cheryle Hartley said. “Act soon to make sure your family and friends will save money, avoid lines onsite, and have a Ridin’ Rockin’ Livestockin’ good time at this fall’s Carolina Classic Fair—we’re only weeks away from opening night!

 

“Be sure to purchase authentic Carolina Classic Fair tickets and ride wristbands by going online to Ticketmaster, ordering directly through our website or in person at the Fairground’s Box Office,” Hartley added.  “Another reason to purchase advance tickets is that admission and ride tickets can be accessed via mobile ticketing, eliminating the need to stand in ticket lines at the Fair.”

 

Advance Ticket prices are $8 for adults (regularly $10 for ages 12 and older) and $3 for children (regularly $5 for ages 6-11). Children under age 5 and senior adults (age 65+ with an ID) are free. Advance Sale Strates Ride Vouchers are $30 ($40 if purchased on site) for unlimited ride weekday use and $50 for weekend use.

 

Ticketmaster has exclusively eliminated its order processing fee for Carolina Classic Fair goers. Online fees for tickets will be $0.50 for tickets, and $0.75 for ride vouchers.

 

Online sales will be promoted via the Fair’s social media links on Facebook, Twitter @CClassicFair and Instagram. Advance Tickets can be purchased with no convenience charges at the Fairgrounds Box Office.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AUGUST 30, 2022)—The Carolina Classic Fair—North Carolina’s second-largest agricultural fair—will feature a number of leading entertainers representing a variety of music genres on the grandstand during the upcoming fair.  The Carolina Classic Fair takes place in Winston-Salem September 30 through October 9.

 

In addition to the headliners at Carolina Classic Fair, other grandstand entertainment will include popular returning shows such as the Demolition Derby (September 30 and October 6), Double Figure 8 Racing (October 1 and 7), 5L Rodeo (October 2 and 9), and the Old Time Tractor Pull (October 8).

 

On Monday, October 3, C+C Music Factory and Rob Base will be featured on the grandstand. C+C Music Factory formed in 1989 and is best known for its five hit singles: “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now),” “Here We Go (Let’s Rock & Roll),” “Things That Make You Go Hmmm…,” “Just a Touch of Love,” and “Keep It Comin.” Original member Freedom Williams continues the legacy of C+C Music Factory.  C+C Music Factory have earned a total of 35 music industry awards worldwide, including five Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, and two MTV Video Music Awards. In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked them as the 44th most successful dance artist of all time. Performing alongside C+C Music Factory will be Rob Base, who is best known for his 1988 top-40 hit “It Takes Two.”

 

On Tuesday, October 4, the Carolina Classic Fair will welcome Niko Moon, Restless Road and Frank Ray on the grandstand.  Moon is widely known as an adventurous artist, writer and musician with an enduring optimism and a flair for challenging boundaries. That attitude is apparent in the EP “Coastin’,” a judiciously layered synthesis of his Georgia roots, pairing Atlanta-bred hip-hop and rural-fed traditional country, two genres that were considered incompatible not that long ago.

 

Dubbed “one of the most intriguing and exciting acts of the year,” Restless Road is made up of Zach Beeken, Colton Pack and Garrett Nichols. Their self-titled debut EP “Restless Road” arrived to widespread critical acclaim, catapulting the country music trio into a new level of stardom. Restless Road is playing to sold-out crowds across America and is known for a “one-of-a-kind sound” that is a mix of modern and traditional country sounds.  Restless Road recently released new music including the hit single “Bar Friends” and has amassed a following of more than two million TikTok followers.

 

As a young person, Gomez began listening to not only country music but also ranchera music. Of Hispanic descent, Gomez thought that he would “stand out” as a country musician, citing other Hispanic artists such as Freddy Fender as inspiration on this front. After having success with performances on weekends and gaining regional commercial success with songs on the Texas country charts, he released an EP titled “Different Kind of Country” in 2018. In 2021, Gomez signed with BBR Music Group and released his debut single “Streetlights.” The song features Ray singing in both English and Spanish. Later in 2021, he issued another single, “Country’d Look Good on You,” which was followed in January 2022 by his first performance on the Grand Ole Opry.

 

Rend Collective with Christian Paul will be featured on the Carolina Classic Fair’s grandstand on Wednesday, October 5. Amidst so much heaviness consuming events of today’s world, Rend Collective shares good news as a response to brokenness. The Ireland hailing Rend Collective harkens back to their roots with a unique sound originally birthed out of Bangor, Ireland.  The band’s sixth studio album “Good News,” embraced the moniker “Purveyors of Good News.” Rend Collective is widely known for its authenticity, and simple old-fashioned Gospel.

 

Grandstand Entertainment at a Glance:

Friday, September 30 – Demolition Derby

Saturday, October 1 – Double Figure 8 Racing

Sunday, October 2 – 5L Rodeo

Monday, October 3 – C+C Music Factory and Rob Base

Tuesday, October 4 – Niko Moon, Restless Road and Frank Ray

Wednesday, October 5 – Rend Collective with Christian Paul

Thursday, October 6 – Demolition Derby

Friday, October 7 – Double Figure 8 Racing

Saturday, October 8 – OTTPA – Old Time Tractor Pull

Sunday, October 9 – 5L Rodeo

 

Discounted admission tickets and Strates Ride vouchers to the Carolina Classic Fair are now available through Ticketmaster, the Fair’s website at CarolinaClassicFair.com, the Fairgrounds’ Box Office located in the Annex (414 Deacon Blvd, 27105, Monday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and at the new Hanes Mall Store location beginning in late August.  The Carolina Classic Fairground Box Office will offer extended hours the week of September 26 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) leading up to the Fair opening day.  All online advance ticket sales will end at midnight on September 29.

 

Online sales will be promoted via the Fair’s social media links on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter @CClassicFair and Instagram. Advance Tickets can be purchased with no convenience charges at the Fairgrounds Box Office.

 

About the Carolina Classic Fair

Celebrating its 140th year in 2022, the Carolina Classic Fair is owned and operated by the City of Winston-Salem after being donated to the City by the Winston-Salem Foundation in 1969. The 10-day annual Fair features nationally renowned musical entertainment, delicious food, and beverages, exhibits for livestock, poultry, fine arts and crafts, a world-class carnival with numerous rides and games, and many more activities. The Carolina Classic Fair at the time of opening day will follow all state and local health and safety protocols. For more information on the Carolina Classic Fair, please visit CarolinaClassicFair.com.

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Fairgrounds Farmers Market Seeking Entrants for Saucy Salsa Contest

        The Fairgrounds Farmers Market is seeking entrants for its annual “Saucy Salsa” contest at 10 a.m. Aug. 13. Contestants can enter in the Hot or Mild categories. Salsas must be submitted the morning of the contest.

The winners of each category will receive $100 in “market bucks” that they can spend at the Farmers Market. Second- and third-place winners will receive $50 and $25 in market bucks, respectively.

The Saucy Salsa contest is open to all non-professional chefs 18 and older. All entries must be homemade and only one entry per category is allowed per person. The salsas will be judged by local salsa connoisseurs. Complete contest rules, judging criteria and the entry form are posted at WSfairgrounds.com/saucy-salsa-contest.

The Fairgrounds Farmers Market is Forsyth County’s longest-running source for locally raised fruits, vegetables and proteins. Market vendors also offer flowers, handmade baskets, cakes & pies, fresh baked breads, jams & jellies, honey, crafts and much more.

        The market is open every Saturday from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Enter through the parking area off of 27th Street.