New for 2024: Caps for Cancer and Prize Money for Pumpkins and Watermelons Paid by the Pound!
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (JULY 25, 2024)—The Carolina Classic Fair—North Carolina’s second-largest agricultural fair—is accepting entries for a wide variety of competitive exhibits including apple decorating, cookie and cake baking, collections, Legos and much more. All entries must be submitted by September 1 for this year’s fair, which will take place in Winston-Salem from October 4 through October 13.
The Carolina Classic Fair has added several new competitive categories for prizes this year, including pillowcase dress, embroidery, sleeping eye mask, no-bake cookies, diamond art, decorated cookies, youth gardening, senior class essays and poems, dog/cat clothing, and professional canning. The fair also is introducing a new category for decorative pepper baskets in memory of Edward “Eddie” Hernandez, a longtime exhibitor who died unexpectedly in September 2023.
New for 2024, the Carolina Classic Fair will award prize money for pumpkins and watermelons by the pound. For example, a winning 1,000 pound pumpkin could earn $2,000 in prize money.
In addition, the fair will offer a new contest called “Caps for Cancer.” Caps entered should be made of soft, stretchy fabric such as fleece to be more comfortable. All caps will be donated to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center following the Fair for distribution to cancer patients.
“There’s a competition for everyone at the Carolina Classic Fair, and I encourage anyone to enter who has an interest or hobby related to our competitive exhibits. We’re particularly excited about our new Caps for Cancer contest to assist those in need,” Carolina Classic Fair Director Cheryle Hartley said. “Participating in the Carolina Classic Fair competitions and seeing the results are always among our annual highlights. The competitions are right at the top of my list of personal favorites at the Carolina Classic Fair.
“Our overall competition theme this year is ‘America,’ and we’re looking forward to seeing plenty of red, white and blue included in entries such as wreaths, Christmas trees and even essays and poems,” she added. “Please note that any type of political messaging or affiliation will be immediately disqualified.
“The great thing is that you don’t have to be a professional to enter our competitions. People at all different experience levels participate in all our categories,” Hartley said. ”It is not surprising to have a novice win a prize. Best of all, those who enter 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. There are no entry fees except for the livestock and wine competitions.
For more information and to access entry forms, please visit carolinaclassicfair.com/competitive-entries.
About the Carolina Classic Fair
Celebrating its 142nd year in 2024, 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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