The fair is coming! The fair is coming! I can remember as a small kid growing up in rural Wayne County the excitement and anticipation that my younger brother and I experienced as time approached for the Wayne County Fair. It was the most exciting time for us next to Christmas.

It is almost time for the Robeson County Fair, and I suspect that there are many kids in this county who are getting just as excited as did my brother and I. I doubt that very many kids read this column, so let me share some information about the upcoming fair that should be of interest to adults.

The Robeson County Fair will be held September 30 through October 5, and the theme is "A Lot of Fun for a Little Money." The Board of Directors of the Robeson County Fair work hard each year to provide the largest and most exciting single event in the county. Realizing the economic conditions in the county, they also work very hard to make the county fair as affordable as possible for everyone.

The Robeson County Fair will continue to offer free admission to the fair for several special days. Tuesday and Wednesday are school days, and over 50,000 free tickets have been distributed to all children in public schools, private schools, home schools, and day care centers in Robeson and adjoining counties. So parents, be sure your children get one of these tickets and allow them to attend the fair on one of these nights when they can get in free. These tickets also include a discount coupon for unlimited rides.

Senior Citizens Day will be held on Tuesday, and all senior citizens will be provided free admission into the fair. The gates will be open at 2:00 that day, and special activities and entertainment will be provided. These visitors will have time to view the exhibits and look around the fairgrounds before the gates are open to the public. They will even be able to play bingo at no cost, compliments of the Lumberton Recreational Department Senior Center.

Realizing that there are special groups of kids in the area, such as those living in orphanages and group homes who may not have the opportunity to attend the fair at all, special arrangements have been made to provide free admission for these groups on Monday night. Arrangements must be made in advance with fair officials.

Tuesday is Handicapped Day at the Fair. Many handicapped youth and adults may not be able to afford to go to the fair. If they do go during normal operating hours, they may not be able to enjoy the fair because of the large crowds. So the fairgrounds and appropriate rides will be open for all special groups from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Tuesday. In the past, over 5,000 people with special needs have visited the fair on this day.

Several new methods are being used this year to provide free or reduced admission to the fair. Advance tickets are available at all Sun-Do convenience stores in the area, D. D. McColl's Hardware Store in St. Pauls, Robeson County employees, Lumberton City employees, Southeast Regional Medical Center, and at several of the major industries in the county. The advance ticket package includes gate admission; unlimited midway rides; and an assortment of coupons for foods, beverages, bingo, pony rides, and more. The value of this package is $30, but it is available in advance for only $15.

Discount coupons have been mailed to all Lumbee River EMC customers, providing discount gate admission and discount unlimited rides. Pepsi Cola is placing discount coupons for gate admission on all of its products in grocery stores and convenience stores throughout the region.

New for this year is Bike Night on Thursday. Special events and contests will be provided for bikers who ride or trailer their bikes to the fair, and the rider will get in free.

As you can see, by taking advantage of these special offers, the Robeson County Fair is truly affordable. But as an adult who does not like to ride the carnival rides, once you get to the fair, what can you do?

Charlie Lowery, urban horticultural Extension agent and the Robeson County Master Gardeners agent, will provide a fantastic Showcasing Urban Horticulture exhibit in the Home Exhibit Building. This exhibit will feature a variety of landscaping displays, commercial garden center exhibits, flower exhibits, tabletop displays of a variety of consumer horticultural topics, and will even include educational seminars nightly. This is a "must see" for those interested in any form of horticulture.

Beverly Huggins has done a wonderful job of assembling a fantastic assortment of local entertainment for all to enjoy. The Local Entertainment Showcase will feature local and regional entertainment throughout the entire week of the fair, and it's free. Entertainment will include gospel, country, rock, rap, traditional, and Latino music. Nowhere else in this entire region will this much talent be assembled for one single event. If you like good music, you will not want to miss this.

There will be many booths and exhibits to view and a chance to visit with friends and neighbors you may not have seen recently. You can even enjoy a relaxing game of bingo in air-conditioned comfort.

If you like to ride, you will not be limited to the routine carnival rides. There will be helicopter rides, camel rides, pony rides, monster truck rides, and more.

The fair is coming. I am already getting excited. How about you?

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 9/27/02