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Fall is in the air, and so are fireworks and the smell of funnel cakes at the Carolina Classic Fair. Get your fill of rides, exhibits, animals, and fair food from October 3 – October 12, 2025.
The Carolina Classic Fair in Winston-Salem, NC, is the second-largest agricultural fair in the state. Ferris wheels, fun rides, and furry friends abound! Enjoy live entertainment, fried foods on a stick (are you up for trying fried butter or a Krispy Kreme burger?), blue ribbon entries, tractor pulls, and more. Last year 270,190 people attended the Fair, with 16,805 coming out the first day – the largest opening day since 2013.
New For 2025 – No Free Admission To Fair For Seniors & Other Policy Changes
- No Free Admission For Seniors: Sadly, senior citizens in Winston-Salem can no longer enjoy the Carolina Classic Fair with free admission, as has been the policy in previous years. There is no regular free admission or discount for seniors in 2025 at the fair. There is just a Senior Day on Tuesday, October 7, with free admission for those over 60 years old
- Everyone 11 and Up Must Have an Admission Ticket: Only children 10 and under are admitted free to the fair
- The Carolina Classic Fair Has A Clear Bag Policy For 2025: You must have a transparent bag to enter the fair for security reasons. A small 6.5′ x 4.5″ clutch or purse is permissible. See this website for more information.
Advance Sale Tickets For A Discount Available
Discounts on both admission tickets and wristband vouchers are available with advance purchase. Save money and avoid lines by ordering now. You can purchase from Ticketmaster now or at the Fairgrounds Box Office on September 2 at 414 Deacon Boulevard, Winston-Salem. Advance ticket sales end on October 2. Tickets purchased online are subject to fees. Visit this Carolina Classic Fair site for details.
Where And When Is The Fair
- Location: the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, 421 27th Street, Winston-Salem
- Hours: Sunday-Friday, 11 am-11 pm, and Saturdays, 9 am-11 pm.
- Dates: October 3 through October 12, 2025
- Fireworks: nightly at 9:45 pm
2025 Tickets And Information
Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster or at the Fairgrounds Box Office at 414 Deacon Boulevard, Winston-Salem. Advance ticket sales end on October 2. Tickets purchased online are subject to fees.
Entertainment At The Fair
The Carolina Classic Fair will feature a spectacular lineup of entertainment for 2025. Entertainment will include grandstand headline shows, additional music on the grounds and at the Clock Tower, the QRC Ice Arena, and Twiggy, the internationally famous skiing squirrel. Grandstand Entertainment will include a Demolition Derby, Figure 8 Racing, A Monster Truck Monday and more. Grounds entertainment includes gravity-defying stunts by Fearless Flores, the robot transforming Megamorph, Mountain Mike chainsaw artistry, Mythicreatures dragon creatures, illusionist Reed Masterson, David Anthony – Living Zultar fortune telling and the always-popular Show-Me Swine Racing pigs. New for 2025 is the QRC Ice Arena, which will provide public ice skating with a wide range of fun daily programming, including youth hockey and figure skating demonstrations, along with a Wake Forest vs East Carolina hockey game. Skate rentals and push helpers are $5 each. Ice Arena programming ends at 9:45 each day.
Ticket Prices
- Adults 11 and up – $10 via Ticketmaster ($13 at gate)
- Kids 10 & under – Free
- *Seniors admission is NOT free, except on October 7
- Early Bird Special Admission $5 weekdays from opening until 4 pm
- Individual tickets are available at $0.50 each; buy $50 worth and receive 120 tickets
- Unlimited Ride wristband:
- Weekday (Mon-Fri): $35
- Weekend (Sat-Sun): $40
- Friday, October – all admission tickets $5
- Tuesday, October 7 – all admission tickets $2; Free admission for Seniors over 60; All rides $2; $2 Food Specials at select vendors
Promotions & Discount Days 2025 Special Days and Promotions
- Friday, Oct, 3 is 107.$5 day – sponsored by 107.5 WKZL.
- $5 gate admission
- Monday, Oct 6 is School Day presented by Deer Park Spring Water, powered by iHeartMedia
- Admission is free to Winston-Salem Forsyth County schools’ children and faculty. Gates will open at 9am to 2pm for school field trips
- Bring three school supplies and receive free admission (all supplies will be contributed to Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools. A suggested supply list can be found here
- School performances, free carousel rides until 2pm, popcorn, and more!
- $20 for 10 rides
- Tuesday, Oct 7 is Senior Day/ $2 Tuesday
- $2 admission/ Seniors over 60, Free
- ALL rides $2
- Many $2 food specials
- Wednesday, Oct 8 is Special Education Day/Can Food Day with Crisis Control Ministry
- Free admission with five nonperishable food items to benefit the Crisis Control Ministry
- Free admission for persons with special needs and their aides
- Thursday, Oct 9 is Military Day/College Day
- Free Admission for active and retired military (with ID) and their immediate family
- $5 Admission for college students (with ID)
- Friday, Oct 10 is Pepsi Family Fun Day powered by Audacy Radio
- Free admission for kids 11 and under until 6 pm
- $20 kiddie ride wristbands, noon to 7 pm for children 7 and under (wristbands will stop being sold at 6:45 pm)
Parking
- LJVM Coliseum lot and Allegacy lots – $10. See map here.
- Other surrounding lots owned by businesses provide parking for a fee
- VIP Leaf Lot is the closest but is first come, first served, so you might want to buy ahead online. $10 (Saturday October 12, $30) All cars must leave by 8 pm each night from this lot for fireworks. The address is 2885 Shorefair Dr.
Prohibited Items And Proper Behavior At The Fair
The following are some of the items prohibited at the Fair:
- Alcohol or drugs
- Skateboards or scooters
- Balls or Frisbees
- Drones
- Selfie sticks
- Weapons
- Offensive or inappropriate clothing
To ensure a positive experience at the Fair, all attendees are expected to follow a Code of Conduct, which includes:
- Treat all guests, staff, law enforcement, volunteers, vendors, and performers with respect, courtesy, and fairness
- Disruptive, threatening, or abusive behavior will not be tolerated
- No Soliciting or Campaigning
- Fighting, harassment, or discriminatory conduct of any kind (verbal, physical, or online) is prohibited
- Adults are expected to supervise children in their care at all times
- Alcoholic beverages may only be purchased and consumed in designated areas by individuals aged 21 and over with a valid ID
For more information on prohibited items and the Code of Conduct see the Fair’s General Info website.
Find Out More About The 2025 Fair
Visit the Carolina Classic Fair Facebook page for the latest info on this unique event.
History Of The Carolina Classic Fair
The fair began in Winston’s twin city, Salem (now Old Salem), in 1882 as a grain exposition. The Piedmont Tobacco Fair began in Winston in 1897. The two events soon joined and became the Winston-Salem Fair.
The fair moved to its current location at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum entertainment complex grounds in 1952 and was then renamed the Dixie Classic Fair for Northwest North Carolina (name shortened in later years). One of the largest fairs in North America, in 2007, the Dixie Classic fair had a record attendance of 371,000 and achieved its second-highest attendance record in 2011, with 357,416 visitors.
In 2020, the fair was renamed the Carolina Classic Fair.
After The Fair
After all the walking, excitement, rides, and fill of fair food, it may be time for some relaxing and a meal that is not deep fried! Take a look at our best casual restaurants. Check out our list and menus, and find a perfect place to go directly from the fair.
What do you enjoy most about the fair? Let us know in the comments.
