By Hugh Fisher
hfisher@salisburypost.com
CONCORD ó It’s Sunday night, but it’s everything but quiet or sleepy at Cabarrus Arena.
“Adrenaline pumping!” is the description of a boy fresh off The Claw, a new generation fair ride that turns you upside down while spinning you around.
But he doesn’t stay to talk. He’s off down the midway, jogging to catch up with his buddies who are already on their way to the next thrill.
When words don’t work, a scream is sufficient: Freak Out, a ride that swings its human cargo up in the air, like a clock pendulum, is a scream machine.
So is the drop tower that sends its riders plummeting about eight stories.
That’s what Gabriel Burden, age 5, and his father Robert have just ridden. Now, they’re riding the gondola Ferris wheel, which is much more tame.
“I told him, you’ve just got to face your fears,” Robert said.
Was Gabriel scared? He nods yes.
But was it fun? He nods again, and smiles.
“You kind of get stuck in the rites of society, going to work, going home, increasing your level of comfort,” Robert said.
“You’ve got to know what you can handle.”
The Cabarrus County Fair is a rite of its own, and for over half a century it’s been thrilling and comforting people all over the area.
Thrilling them with rides and competition. Comforting them with down-home charm and more than a little junk food.
More than a question of what they can handle, it’s a matter of what people need.
When the nights start getting cooler, that can mean a shot of adrenaline, a candy apple or a showing of farmhand skill. And the Cabarrus County Fair has them all.
Bigger and better
In its opening weekend, the Cabarrus County Fair took in over 30,000 patrons, Fair Manager Candace Storey said.
“It’s been wonderful. There’s been a great turnout.”
Storey and Charlie Belknap, of Powers Great American Midways, are the power team at the fair. She manages the local aspects, and he represents the rides and games.
Sunday’s attendance was boosted by those taking advantage of a canned food drive to save on admission, Storey said.
That and other special admission deals and discounts have helped keep the economy from hurting the fair in its opening weekend.
On the contrary, Belknap said, “The economy has helped the fair business. People don’t travel to destinations like Florida or California.”
The people at Cabarrus Arena Sunday night hailed from Salisbury, Huntersville, Mooresville and Charlotte, as well as Cabarrus County cities.
This year’s fair has plenty to keep them coming back.
“We have seven new rides, new games and new concessions,” Belknap said.
Powers Great American Midways also provides rides and games for the North Carolina State Fair and the Rowan County Fair, among others. This is their fourth year in business at the Cabarrus County Fair.
“We’ve had something new every year.”
On the local side, one of the most popular new attractions is a children’s petting barn, with a variety of animals from Rockin’ A Ranch of Midland.
Now, Storey said, children can see sheep, ducks and other favorite animals no matter which night they come, as well as a llama, an alpaca and other more exotic creatures.
Still, the nostalgic features of the county fair are there in full force.
The decline in number of family farms hasn’t killed interest in the livestock judging.
“They’re still turning out,” said fair coordinator Tonya Gill.
She said the poultry division had over 450 entries. “We have over 50 different rabbits. We had a sheep and goat show today, and it went on for five hours,” Gill said.
Outside, favorite events mixed with attractions such as a firefighter training show, the trained trick dogs of K9s in Flight and Robinson’s Racing and Swimming Pigs.
Packed with fun
But the midway is the center of the action.
Amid the shouts and the nonstop music are the families enjoying themselves with old favorites and new treats.
“This is his first time,” Lindsey Echerd of Concord said as she watched her husband Travis and their son Colton, 2, spin by on the carousel.So far, Colton’s first visit to the fair had shown him not only rides, but chickens and ducks. “He liked talking to them,” Lindsey said.
Others were catching up with old friends. The gondola Ferris wheel is Lauren Illing’s favorite. It was her second time riding it that night.
“You get to see everything,” said Lauren, who came with her family from Huntersville.
Mike Illing, her father, said they make the trip because of the quality off the fair. And he named a different favorite treat: “Funnel cakes!”
Fried dough, potato chips, candy apples ó all the favorites were there, along with a mix of international foods.
Corn dogs are Kim Bouchelle’s favorite, she said as she and husband Steve took a break inside the exhibit hall.
Nearby, a volunteer from the North Carolina Woodturners made a miniature baseball bat on a lathe while their children, Jacob and Makayla, looked on from behind a window.
“The most fun part is watching the kids enjoy themselves,” Steve said.
The fun at the Cabarrus County Fair continues all week, with a variety of events on tap.
Jake Owen plays tonight on the main arena stage. That concert is free with purchase of a regular fair admission ticket. The Embers take the stage on Friday night.
The fair is open from 4 to 11 p.m. nightly through Saturday.
Full information on admission, special offers, concerts and event schedules can be found online at www.cabarruscountyfair. com.

To watch raw video from the Cabarrus County Fair, click here.