In addition to the cooler weather, concerts at the Crown, and pumpkin spice everything, the next most anticipated joy of the fall is the county fair. The Cumberland County Fair is gearing up for another year of entertainment, rides, food, and of course, pageant Queens.
This year's fair will run from Aug. 30 through Sept. 8, with gates opening at 5 p.m. at the Crown Complex on Friday, August 30. A Ribbon Cutting will take place at 4:45 p.m. in conjunction with the Greater Fayetteville Chamber to officially open the gates and start the 2024 fair.
The Crown Complexes Clear Bag Policy will be in effect for the duration of the fair. There will be no purses, backpacks, or fanny packs. Admission is $10 for adults and children 3 and over, except on special nights. This year’s schedule offers special hours for a sensory-friendly experience and special rates for hometown heroes and children on certain nights.
Aug. 30: Military & First Responders Night (free entry with valid ID)
Gates open at 5 p.m., $5 Admission for children ages 3 to 12
Aug. 31: Gates open at 5 p.m.
Sept. 1: Faith and Family Night ($5 off with your church bulletin)
Gates open at 1 p.m., $5 Admission for children ages 3 to 12
Sept. 2: Sensory Friendly Time 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Sept. 3: $2 Tuesday, $2 Admission
Senior Night sponsored by Carelon Health (free admission for ages 65 and up)
Karaoke Contest
Sept. 4: BOGO Night (Buy one, get one free on admission and unlimited ride badge)
BOGO on select concessions
Gates open at 5 p.m.
Sept. 5: A Day of Giving (supporting Second Harvest Food Bank)
Free admission with 6 non-perishable food items
4-H & FFA Day (Free admission for cardholders)
School Kids and Personnel Day ($2 Admission with School ID)
Gates open at 5 p.m.
Sept. 6: Gates open at 5 p.m.
Sept. 7: Gates open at 1 p.m.
Sept. 8: Faith and Family Day ($5 off with church bulletin)
$5 admission for children ages 3 to 12
Highlighting Cumberland County’s history in racing, this year’s theme is “On your mark. Get set. Fair!” Fairgoers will have the opportunity to learn more about how Cumberland County’s agriculture shaped the history of racing. As always, the fair will feature an array of rides provided by Big Rock Amusements. From the smallest of the bunch to the oldest, there will be something for the whole family to enjoy.
And of course, the food! Hotdogs, corndogs, cotton candy, funnel cakes, fried Oreos, and all the quintessential fair food stands will be ready to delight your taste buds and sweet tooth.
There will be a few changes this year. Maddy Eversole, Marketing Director for the Crown Complex is excited about some of the changes they are bringing this year.
“Karaoke is new this year. This year we’re also bringing the petting zoo inside and expanding it. We’re also adding a Hula Hooping Contest. This is the first year we’re having a Whiskey Wagon – it’s run by local distillers, BHAWK … We’ve worked really hard to add a lot of value to the fair,” she said.
“We have so many specials where people can save money on entry and even rides and food on BOGO night. We’ve also added lots of free entertainment to ensure that families have an amazing time. We’ll have rides, games, local food trucks, local vendors, live music, a beer garden, a whiskey wagon, magic shows, karaoke, a hula hooping contest, wrestling, fire shows, family game shows, the petting zoo, livestock shows, and hundreds of exhibit items from local artists, creators, craftsmen, and school children. The Cumberland County Fair is the perfect place to bring your family for fun,” Eversole said.
The entertainment lineup this year is fire, literally.
“We will have a lot of entertainment each day during the fair. There will be two shows per night by Ember Fire Arts, a fan favorite last year. There will also be magic and family games by Bob Bohm Family Entertainment who was also a hit last year. This year, in addition to live music on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, there will be karaoke Tuesday through Thursday,” Eversole said.
Ember Fire Arts will be hitting the stage nightly at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Ember Fire Arts promises “... You will see some of the most amazing fire artistry that is both incredible to watch and extremely dangerous.” Several bands will be putting on a show during the fair, from country to gospel to variety, there will be something for everyone’s ear. Acts like Third Crush, Autumn Groove, and Destiny Praise will keep the crowd moving, grooving and maybe even praising.
The full schedule of entertainment can be found at https://www.crowncomplexnc.com/events/cumberlandcountyfair.
No Southern county fair would be complete without a pageant. The Cumberland County Fair Pageant will take place on Aug. 31 at the Crown Theater at 2:30 p.m. (ages 0-6 years) and 6:30 p.m. (ages 7 and up).
With 15 categories and contestants being crowned Miss and Master, this year will surely boast some talented, well-spoken community members of all ages and genders.
This year’s pageant will fund the Fisher House Foundation. Fisher House Foundation provides “comfort homes” for military families to stay while their loved ones are in the hospital.
These homes are provided free of charge for the families and allow them to focus on the care and recovery of their family members. For anyone interested, there is still time to join in on the pageant fun. Application, rules, and rehearsal dates can be found online at https://cumberlandcountyfairpageant.com/. There is still time to get involved with the fair as a food vendor or inside exhibitor as well as sponsorship opportunities.
“We are currently seeking sponsors for Military & First Responders Day, Faith & Family Days, Sensory Friendly Time, and a Day of Giving,” Eversole said.
Between the rides, the food, the entertainment, and the games, the 2024 Cumberland County Fair is going to be a driving force of fall fun and a grand kickoff to the fall season.

(Above Photo: The Cumberland County Fair lights up for the night in 2023. Bottom Photo: Winners of the Cumberland County Fair pageant ride the carousel, showing off their prizes. Photos courtesy of the Crown Complex)