By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
CONCORD ó The poor economy may boost attendance at the Cabarrus County Fair this year, and organizers have added more ways to get in free.
“I think there are going to be a lot of families staying close to home,” fair manager Candace Storey said.
Storey said she expects attendance to reach at least 80,000. The fair, held at the Cabarrus Arena, has new attractions this year and several ways for people to save money.
“We have so many specials this year for families,” Storey said.
Free admission opportunities include:
– Salute to Hometown Heroes
Because the fair opens on Sept. 11, all law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel, plus three family members, will pay no admission from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday with an ID.
– Football Fridays
Both Fridays during the fair, anyone with a ticket stub from a high school football game will get in free.
– Ribbon Cutting
After the ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, the fair will admit everyone for free from 1 to 3 p.m.
– Canned Food Drive
During the food drive from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, adults with four cans of food and kids with two cans will get in free.
– 4-H 100th Birthday Party
To celebrate the 4-H centennial, the fair will offer free admission from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday for anyone with a 4-H passport.
Once inside the gates, all entertainment, expositions and concerts at the fair are free.
Ride wristbands are on sale for $15 through Thursday at the Concord Mills Guest Services desk and the Cabarrus Arena box office.
Several animal attractions are new this year, including a petting zoo designed to introduce younger children to farm animals. The petting zoo is housed adjacent to the show ring and competitive animals.
The petting zoo begins at 4 p.m. Friday when fair gates open and will open daily with the midway and exposition buildings.
K9s in Flight, a new dog agility show, will perform at 5 p.m. Friday and throughout the fair, which ends Sept. 19.
Children will have the chance to “act like their heroes,” Storey said, during the interactive Firefighter Training Show.
Kids can put on firefighting gear, roll up hoses and drive mini fire trucks. The show will be held several times a day throughout the fair.
The headline performer at the fair is country recording artist Jake Owen, known for hits such as “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” and “Eight Second Ride.”
He will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday inside Cabarrus Arena.
For a full entertainment schedule, visit www.myspace.com/cabarruscountyfair.
Fair gates open at 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sunday. Children age 5 and under are admitted free, and parking is free.
For more information, log on to www.cabarruscountyfair.com.
Many people look forward to the fair all summer and arrange their calendar around the event, Storey said.
“The fair is like Christmas,” she said. “It comes once a year and the same time every year.”