Carolina Classic Fair in Winston-Salem: dates, tickets, parking

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Dates, prices and rules come from the Carolina Classic Fair, which is owned and run by the City of Winston-Salem. Fair office: 336-727-2236. This page is updated for each year’s fair at the same address.

The 2026 Carolina Classic Fair ran Friday, Oct. 2, through Sunday, Oct. 11, at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. The 2027 dates have not been announced. The fair runs for 10 days, and in both 2024 and 2026 it opened on the first Friday in October: Oct. 4-13 in 2024 and Oct. 2-11 in 2026. In 2026 the dates and the year’s theme were out by June 8.

Know before you go

• 2026 dates: Friday, Oct. 2, to Sunday, Oct. 11 (2027 dates not yet announced)
• Where: Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, 2825 University Parkway (parking: 2885 Shorefair Drive)
• Admission (2026): $10 for ages 6 and up online, $13 at the gate; 5 and under free
• Parking: $10 in the LJVM Coliseum and Allegacy Financial Stadium lots
• Gates: close at 9 p.m.; the fair closes at 11 p.m.
• Contact: fair office, 336-727-2236; tickets on carolinaclassicfair.com

What the fair is

The fair says 2026 was its 144th year. The Winston-Salem Foundation handed it to the City of Winston-Salem in 1969, and the city has owned and run it since. It brings music, fair food, livestock and agricultural exhibits, arts and crafts and a carnival midway to the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds.

The 2026 theme was “Red White and Moo,” a nod to America’s 250th birthday. The 2026 lineup, all free with admission, included:

• grandstand concerts by We Are Messengers and The Band Perry
• a hot dog eating contest with Joey Chestnut on Oct. 8
• Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel, a falconer, a pig show and a petting zoo
• bluegrass in Yesterday Village and heritage craft demonstrations
• the Community Showcase, with more than 13,000 competitive categories

Weather in 2026

The fair closed on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, because of weather from Hurricane Isaias. It reopened Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. with free admission for everyone, for the final day.

Tickets and hours

Prices below are the 2026 prices from the fair’s tickets page and general info page. 2027 prices have not been set.

• Gates: opened at 11 a.m. Sunday through Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday.
• Midway: noon to 11 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.
• Re-entry: same day only, with a hand stamp.
• Buy online: the fair sells through its website and Ticketmaster and says to buy only from those two. Online tickets skip the $3 gate surcharge.

Discount days

The 2026 fair ran a promotion almost every day: $5 admission on opening day, $3 admission and free entry for seniors 55 and up on Tuesday, free entry for five nonperishable food items on Wednesday, free entry for active and retired military on Thursday, and free admission for kids 11 and under until 6 p.m. on the second Friday. Wednesday had quiet hours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with ride lights, music and sound effects turned down. Expect a similar list for 2027 on the tickets page.

Parking and getting there

The fair’s parking page says:

• General parking is $10, cash or card, in the LJVM Coliseum and Allegacy Financial Stadium lots, which Wake Forest University owns and runs.
• Address for GPS: 2885 Shorefair Drive for parking; the fairgrounds are at 2825 University Parkway.
• Wake Forest game days: the coliseum lots double as football parking. For the Wake Forest home game on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, the fair sent visitors to free shuttle lots at 2400 Reynolda Road and a church lot at 3730 University Parkway, with shuttles until 11 p.m., and parking went back to $10 once game traffic cleared.

The box office is at 414 Deacon Blvd.

Rules and what to know

From the fair’s guest safety page and general info page:

• Bags: a clear bag policy, bag checks and walk-through metal detectors at the gates.
• Pets: not allowed. Service animals are welcome.
• Not allowed: coolers, alcohol brought in, skateboards and scooters, shoes with wheels, drones, selfie sticks, tripods, laptops, laser pointers, balls and Frisbees, fireworks, weapons and knives, oversized bags.
• Alcohol: sold and drunk only in set areas, to adults 21 and older with ID.
• Youth rules: the city’s Youth Protection Ordinance applies during the fair; check the guest safety page before sending teenagers on their own.
• Late arrivals: ticket gates shut at 9 p.m. even though the fair stays open until 11 p.m.

More fall events

For pumpkin patches and corn mazes, see fall festivals and pumpkin patches near Winston-Salem, and for everything else on this month, things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Carolina Classic Fair?

The 2026 fair ran Friday, Oct. 2, through Sunday, Oct. 11, at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. The 2027 dates have not been announced; the fair runs for 10 days in early October.

How much is admission to the Carolina Classic Fair?

In 2026 general admission for ages 6 and up was $10 online, plus a $3 surcharge at the gate, and children 5 and under got in free. Weekday admission was free before 1 p.m.

Where do you park for the Carolina Classic Fair?

General parking is $10 in the LJVM Coliseum and Allegacy Financial Stadium lots, run by Wake Forest University, according to the fair. The parking address is 2885 Shorefair Drive.

Can I bring a bag or my dog to the Carolina Classic Fair?

The fair has a clear bag policy and walk-through metal detectors at the gates. Pets are not allowed; service animals are.

What time do the Carolina Classic Fair gates close?

Ticket gates close at 9 p.m. each night and the fair closes at 11 p.m.