By: Travis Archie
Ninety years since the first celebration of the Cleveland County Fair, and it has become a major attraction for Cleveland County residents and people surrounding the Foothills area.
The Cleveland County Fair is a fun-filled, family oriented event. There is something for all ages to enjoy. The fair runs from September 25 to October 5. Mondays through Fridays the gates are open from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. On Saturday the gates open at 9 a.m. and on Sunday the gates open at 10 a.m.
In 1923 the Cleveland County Fair Committee was formed, with O. Max Gardner as the president of the organization. In 1924 the fair had its grand opening, with the Miller Show on the Midway as the highlight.
Gardner-Webb freshman and Cleveland County native, Mackenzie Lee, has been going to the Cleveland County Fair since she was a child. “One of the most memorable things at the fair is riding the ferris wheel with friends,” said Lee.
The ferris wheel is one of the main attractions at the fair. It can be seen from the road and is the official sign that the fair is in town. When riding the ferris wheel one can see all the way to Kings Mountain, and many people like to take pictures with their friends and have the fair scenery as the background. It can also serve as a romantic gesture for couples.
“I like going to the fair to eat the food such as fried pickles,” said Gardner Webb student T.J Steel.
The Cleveland County Fair has some of the best and unusual food. From funnel cakes and fried Oreos to Ostrich legs, fried butter, and hamburgers with Krispy Kreme doughnuts as the bun; the fair has an assortment of foods that are bad for the body but good for the spirit.
Not only does the fair have food and rides, it also has entertainment such as the Hogway Speedway Racing Pigs which happens at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on weekdays. On Friday October 3, the Lizard Lick Towing, which is a popular TV show, will be doing a show at the Weathers Stadium from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Another show that is popular among people, is the Tumbleweed Crossing Wild West Show. It appears at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on weekdays. The setting of the show takes place in the old west and has wacky dialogue, gun fires and explosions.