The 2018 Cumming Country Fair & Festival will run October 4-14 at the Cumming Fairgrounds on Castleberry Road. This 24th annual fair will feature a wide variety of music, performances, rides, games, contests, food and exhibits from a number of different sources.

Last year, fair officials announced that despite a one-day closure due to bad weather more than 172,900 participants came out to the enjoy the days of fun and celebration.

According to Michael Bennett, assistant events coordinator for the City of Cumming Fairgrounds, this year they are energized for the upcoming week and expecting a large turnout with the current forecast of mostly fair weather.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to one of the county’s signature events:

The 24th annual Cumming Country Fair & Festival presented by Northside Hospital Forsyth

When: Oct. 4 to 14. Open daily, Monday to Thursday, 4-10 p.m.; Friday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, 12:30-9 p.m.

Where: The Fairgrounds can be found off Ga. 400 Exit 14 at 235 Castleberry Road. Parking can be found directly adjacent to the fairgrounds off Castleberry Road.

Admission: $7 for adults and children, 11 years or older. Children under 10 are free.

Parking: $5 per vehicle. Handicap parking available is also available for $5. There is no re-entry.

Schedule

Northside Hospital Forsyth Day: Thursday, Oct. 4. Opening day of the fair and admission is free for all ages all day.

Senior Citizen Day: Sunday, Oct. 7. Admission is free all day for anyone over the age of 55. Admission and rides are free for anyone 18 or younger with a school special coupon. Also, free adult admission is available in exchange for seven non-perishable canned goods that will go to Feed the Hungry of Forsyth.

Student Night: Monday, Oct. 8. Admission for anyone 18 or younger is free all day.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Day: Wednesday, Oct. 10. Admission is free for all ages all day.

Football Friday Night: Friday, Oct. 12. Admission is free after 9 p.m., with a high school football ticket stub.

Heroes Day: Sunday, Oct. 14. Admission is free for all law enforcement, firefighters, first responders and all active, retired or reserve members of the military, with valid identification.

Attractions

Awards and Competitions: Awards will be given for canning, baking School Scarecrow, Giant Pumpkin and Hay on Thursday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. Admission is free for all ages this day.

Miss Cumming Fair Pageant: The fairgrounds will host the Miss Cumming Fair Pageant, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 6. All admission and rides will be free this day from 10-11 a.m.

American Bullriders Tour: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 and 3 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 14.

Marvel Super Heroes Team: Interactive show at 5 and 7:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Oct. 10

Heritage Village: A living history exhibit will be on display again this year. View authentic farm machinery such as a cotton gin, sawmill, blacksmith shop, steam engine exhibit center and more. Visit the general store for homemade items.

Grizzly Experience: An educational Grizzly bear show and exhibit. Monday to Friday: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Saturday to Sunday: 3, 6 and 8 p.m.

Olympic High Dive Show: A dive-themed comedy act that mixes synchronized acrobatics with Olympic-style diving. Monday to Friday: 5, 7 and 9 p.m., Saturday to Sunday: 2, 5 and 8 p.m.

Lady Houdini: An escape artist performance from Kristen Johnson, the only person to break Harry Houdini’s record for most water escapes ever. Monday to Friday: 5:30-8:30 p.m., Saturday to Sunday: 2:30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.

Atlanta Puppet Show: A show featuring marionettes and other puppetry styles from master puppeteer Peter Hart. Monday to Friday: 5, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday to Sunday: 2, 4, 5:30 and 8 p.m.

The Great James H. Drew Exposition Carnival Midway: More than 40 rides and games that can be ridden or played for tickets during fair hours.

David Smith—The Human Cannonball: This act will feature David “The Bullet” Smith who will be shot 300 feet across the fair midway several times a day.

North Georgia Petting Zoo and Pony Rides: Participants will be able to interact with bison, zebra, cows, rabbits, llamas daily during fair hours.

Cherokee Indian Village: Open all day on Saturdays and Sundays, these traditional performances and demonstrations will educate visitors about Native American history and their way of life.

Brian Ruth Master of the Chainsaw: Have you ever seen someone transform a raw log into a work of art using only a chainsaw? Well, now you can with the Brian Ruth Master of the Chainsaw show. Monday to Friday: 5:30, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Saturday: 1:30, 3:30, 6 and 9:30 p.m. and Sunday: 2:30, 4:30 and 6:30.

Music: On Tuesday, Oct. 9, the fair will host a performance by Confederate Railroad, a Southern Rock band from Marietta, and on Thursday, Oct. 11, fairgoers will have a chance to see the nationally-renowned headline music act, Trace Adkins. Both of these acts will start at 8 p.m. and are free with admission to the fairgrounds.

Food and drink

Food at the fair will consist of the typical annual crowd pleasers: Funnel cakes, barbecue, hot dogs, turkey legs, boiled peanuts and of course a mixture of unhealthy treats straight from the fryer. There is no alcohol allowed on the Fairgrounds, but there will be a ton of options to quench your thirst with freshly squeezed lemonade, soda, water and other drink options.

Do’s and Don’ts

Pets, coolers, alcohol, and outside food or drinks are not allowed in the Fairgrounds. Fair patrons are welcome to bring strollers, wheelchairs, and chairs for concerts.

Official information

For more information, call 770-781-3491 or visit Cummingfair.net.