Following are some of the acts featured at the fair:
Brian Ruth “Master of the Chainsaw”
Ruth, who has been carving for more than 20 years, will transform a raw, two-foot-long log into a piece of art using only a chainsaw. The 30-32 carvings will be auctioned on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.
His carving schedule:
• Monday-Friday: 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
• Saturday: 1:30, 3:30, 6 and 9:30 p.m.
• Sunday: 2:30, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Johnny Rockett’s Cycle Circus Live: Ball of Steel
Riders perform in the 15-foot steel cage, eluding gravity while performing “death-defying maneuvers, missing each other by mere inches.”
Show Schedule:
• Monday-Thursday: 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
• Friday: 6, 8 and 10 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday: 3, 6 and 8 p.m.
Johnny Rockett’s Circus Live: The Cybertrons
Johnny Rockett and Galaxy Girl perform “motorcycle madness” stunts.
Show Schedule:
• Monday-Friday: 6 and 8 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday: 3 and 6 p.m.
Sea Lion Splash
The animals will balance balls, catch rings, do handstands and show off their gymnastics tricks to audiences.
Show schedule:
• Monday-Friday: 5, 7 and 9 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday: 2:30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Michelle’s Magical Poodles
Family-friendly, interactive and fun for all ages.
Show
schedule:
• Monday-Friday: 6 and 8 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday: 3 and 6 p.m.
Miss Cumming Fair Pageant
Miss Cumming Fair Queen is the highest title and the winner will complete at the State Fair Pageant in January 2017. The event is on Oct. 8.
• Baby Miss Cumming Fair: ages 0-2 ; party, pageant or Sunday dress; 10 a.m.
• Tiny Miss Cumming Fair: ages 3-4; party pageant or Sunday dress; 10:30 a.m.
• Petite Miss Cumming Fair: ages 5-6; party, pageant or Sunday dress; 10:45 a.m.
• Little Miss Cumming Fair: ages 7-9; party, pageant long or short or Sunday dress; 11:15 a.m.
• Jr. Teen Miss Cumming Fair: ages 10-12; long gown; 11:45 a.m.
• Teen Miss Cumming Fair: ages 13-16; long gown; noon
• Miss Cumming Fair Queen: ages 17-24; long gown; 12:15 p.m.
While the soft ballad of Lonestar’s “Amazed” is sure to draw crowds, the Cumming Country Fair and Festival touts its yearly non-musical acts as another major draw to the Cumming Fairgrounds at 235 Castleberry Road.
Certain events are staples throughout the fair, this year scheduled for Oct. 6-16, such as Brian Ruth, “Master of the Chainsaw,” the petting zoo and pony rides.
There is an array of offerings to be found in the fairgrounds, such as Oscar the Robot – “a sophisticated, robotic people magnet” who visits daily during fair hours.
Then there’s the Sea Lion Splash, the “only traveling, self-contained sea lion show in the country.” The animals will also be on display for patrons to view when they’re not performing.
Michelle’s Magical Poodles, “fun and quirky dog tricks with an educational twist,” is back and sure to bring smiles.
Some key primetime acts include a Marvel Superhero show on Wednesday, Oct. 12, which will feature Spiderman, Captain America, Thor, Iron Man and others. The heroes will also hold a meet and greet with kids after the show.
Bull riders are also a staple and “always a lot of fun,” said Dave Horton, fairgrounds director. The fair boasts 40 to 50 riders per night, Horton said.
A new show this year is Johnny Rockett, who performs airborne motorcycle stunts. “I’m excited to see this,” Horton said. “I just can’t imagine riding a motorcycle 50 feet up in the air.”
Heritage Village
Heritage Village is back again, giving visitors a glimpse of what life was like for Cumming residents in 1900.
“It’s great. People get to see the machinery their grandparents used,” Horton said.
The area showcases authentic farm machinery, such as the printing press, cotton gin, syrup mill, cider press, saw mill and the water wheel corn mill, among others.
Shops and landmarks from the early 20th century will also be present, including an old barber shop, a blacksmith shop, a doctor’s office, a general store, a post office, old Baptist and Methodist churches and a dentist’s office.
A one-room schoolhouse draws crowds, as does the Indian Village.
The village, which consists of six buildings, touts traditional performances and demonstrations aimed at educating visitors about Native American history and way of life.
Two of the buildings are “historical log cabins that were relocated and completely renovated on site, while the other facilities were built using construction methods and materials that represent Native American culture.”
Horton said it is one of his favorite spots because of the “colorful regalia and great atmosphere.”