Each year, right before the gates to the Haywood County Fair open to the public, the event reveals its special attractions to two select groups of people from our community: local fourth graders and area senior citizens.
“For me, it’s a full circle moment to get to offer this to our community. I attended ‘4th Grade Day’ as a fourth grader, and now I get to run it for today’s fourth graders,” said Sally Dixon, county extension director for the North Carolina Cooperative Extension. “It’s so important to connect our young people to our agricultural heritage. And it’s also a great community outreach from N.C. Cooperative Extension.”
This go-round, the free-of-charge “4th Grade Day” will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. In past years, over 550 fourth graders from local schools were involved in the event, with around 620 expected to attend in 2026. To note, Dixon is also part of the 4-H Youth Development for the NCCE.
“Our first priority is to keep this field trip easy and fun for the teachers,” Dixon said. “And so, the chaos has to be managed to ensure everyone has a safe and fun day. That involves a lot of work that has to happen down to the minute to make the magic come alive.”
Several stations are set up for the students to experience, including milk and cookies with milk from local farms, asking farmers questions about their profession, beekeeping, recycling, chick hatching, soil layers, and interactions with community partners from local EMS and law enforcement.
“Our mission is to strengthen our community and our local food systems,” Dixon said. “And we can’t do that if we don’t intentionally reach out to the people of Haywood County to make that happen.”
The following day, from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 25, “Senior Day at the Fair” will take place. Anyone over the age of 55 from around our backyard is invited to come and experience all the fun of the Haywood County Fair.
“Anyone (over 55) can just show up. We’re prepared for anywhere from 100 to 250 people,” said Michelle Claytor, senior services manager at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center. “We provide prizes and snacks. Some of the people bring their lunch and stay the entire time, some people just come for part of it.”
Claytor pointed out that local seniors are appreciative of the opportunity to enjoy the fair during the day, in that many of the attendees don’t have to worry about driving at night to and from the fair.
“If they want to go back with their family and friends later on, they can,” Claytor said. “But, for those who don’t drive at night, it’s great. And they get to see a little preview of the fair, so it’s kind of special for them.”
For the HCSRC, the fair continues to represent a bountiful partnership for the organization, one that connects the dots of our community, especially when all sorts of avenues of people and purpose come together to help one another.
“It’s another way to do outreach and let people know we’re here,” Claytor said. “Because a lot of times, surprisingly enough, we don’t get a lot of people that come here until right when they need us. So, it’s nice for us to do some outreach and give back.”
Want to go?
A special offering by the N.C. Cooperative Extension, the free-of-charge “4th Grade Day” at the Haywood County Fair will be held at 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville.
The following day, from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 25, “Senior Day at the Fair” will take place. Presented by the Haywood County Senior Resource Center, anyone over the age of 55 is invited to come and experience all the fun of the Haywood County Fair.
For more information, visit haywoodcountyfair.com.
Haywood County Fair
The annual Haywood County Fair will take place Sept. 24-27 at the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville.
The fair will run 5-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 per day for adults, $5 for ages 6-12, and free for ages 5 and under.
General admission tickets are valid for Friday through Sunday only. Tickets can also be bought at the fair gate (cash only). To note, Thursday gate admission will be per car load at a rate of $25. Midway rides not included in gate admission.
For a full schedule of activities and/or purchase tickets, visit haywoodcountyfair.com.