At a glance
• What: Cumming Country Fair & Festival
• When: Oct. 7-17
• Where: Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Road
• Tickets: Advance tickets can be purchased through Sept. 30. Cost: $5 for adults; $2 for students 5 to 18 years old; and free for children under 5. Regular admission is $7 for adults, $3 for students and free for children under 5. Parking is $3 and rides are $1 per ticket.
• Specials: There will be an $18 unlimited ride special Oct. 7, 12 and 13, and a $15 unlimited ride special Oct. 11.
• Contact: For more information, call (770) 781-3491 or visit www.cummingfair.net.
• What: Cumming Country Fair & Festival
• When: Oct. 7-17
• Where: Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Road
• Tickets: Advance tickets can be purchased through Sept. 30. Cost: $5 for adults; $2 for students 5 to 18 years old; and free for children under 5. Regular admission is $7 for adults, $3 for students and free for children under 5. Parking is $3 and rides are $1 per ticket.
• Specials: There will be an $18 unlimited ride special Oct. 7, 12 and 13, and a $15 unlimited ride special Oct. 11.
• Contact: For more information, call (770) 781-3491 or visit www.cummingfair.net.
It may be more than a month away, but organizers have begun preparations for the annual Cumming Country Fair & Festival.
“We have different entertainment every year, and that has a lot to do with a lot of people coming back every year,” said Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt. “A lot of people don’t go on vacation. They come to the fair instead.”
The 16th annual event will feature fan favorites and a few new tricks. Among them is K9s in Flight, a combination show of high-flying Frisbee dogs and dock dogs.
“When I say high-flying, they’re getting way up in the air,” said Dave Horton, fairgrounds administrator.
Also new to the fair this year is Wildlife Wendy’s Tropical Birds and the Bear Mountain wild life show.
“Every year we change up some of the ground acts,” Horton said.
Among the regulars are the Cheorkee Indian Village, Heritage Village and Oscar the Robot, which Horton calls a “people magnet.”
But Horton’s personal favorite is Brian Ruth, Master of the Chainsaw.
“To see what he produces in a 45-minute time period from a raw piece of wood just amazes me,” Horton said. “He comes up with new things every year.”
The fair will also have more than 40 rides and games. Among them: the Moonrocket, Cyclops, Pirate Ship, Himalaya and the Seattle Wheel. Kiddie rides include the jumbo elephant and bumble bee rides.
“Dave’s got us some good entertainment lined up,” Gravitt said.
This year’s musical acts includes Little Texas, dubbed the “hardest-working band in country music;” Colt Ford, who debuted earlier this year at the Grand Ole Opry; and Tanya Tucker, who at just 13 became a top-10 country musician with “Delta Dawn.”
American Idol alumni Phil Stacey and Chris Sligh will also take the fairgrounds stage, as will country musician Craig Morgan. Some of his hits include “Redneck Yacht Club,” “Almost Home” and “Tough.”
Despite the crowd appeal of the fair, the weather did not cooperate last year, when more than half of the days were soggy.
While Horton said some rain is typically expected, it usually affects two to three days.
“But [last year] we had six ... it’s the first time we’ve had a year like that in 15 years,” he said.
Horton hopes this year’s crowds will compensate for last year’s weather.
The continued trend of people cutting back on vacations and staying home could help, he said.
“I think the economy the way it is, probably within a 100-mile radius, your counties that are on our borders that surround us will come to the fair,” he said.
“Families are looking for a value and when you really look at the fair, you can come around and pick some of the special days with ride specials or admission specials.”
Gravitt said he and city council members attend the fair daily to “try to meet and greet everybody.”
“I just enjoy meeting people and it’s a great place to see a lot of friends,” he said. “We really enjoy going.”
“We have different entertainment every year, and that has a lot to do with a lot of people coming back every year,” said Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt. “A lot of people don’t go on vacation. They come to the fair instead.”
The 16th annual event will feature fan favorites and a few new tricks. Among them is K9s in Flight, a combination show of high-flying Frisbee dogs and dock dogs.
“When I say high-flying, they’re getting way up in the air,” said Dave Horton, fairgrounds administrator.
Also new to the fair this year is Wildlife Wendy’s Tropical Birds and the Bear Mountain wild life show.
“Every year we change up some of the ground acts,” Horton said.
Among the regulars are the Cheorkee Indian Village, Heritage Village and Oscar the Robot, which Horton calls a “people magnet.”
But Horton’s personal favorite is Brian Ruth, Master of the Chainsaw.
“To see what he produces in a 45-minute time period from a raw piece of wood just amazes me,” Horton said. “He comes up with new things every year.”
The fair will also have more than 40 rides and games. Among them: the Moonrocket, Cyclops, Pirate Ship, Himalaya and the Seattle Wheel. Kiddie rides include the jumbo elephant and bumble bee rides.
“Dave’s got us some good entertainment lined up,” Gravitt said.
This year’s musical acts includes Little Texas, dubbed the “hardest-working band in country music;” Colt Ford, who debuted earlier this year at the Grand Ole Opry; and Tanya Tucker, who at just 13 became a top-10 country musician with “Delta Dawn.”
American Idol alumni Phil Stacey and Chris Sligh will also take the fairgrounds stage, as will country musician Craig Morgan. Some of his hits include “Redneck Yacht Club,” “Almost Home” and “Tough.”
Despite the crowd appeal of the fair, the weather did not cooperate last year, when more than half of the days were soggy.
While Horton said some rain is typically expected, it usually affects two to three days.
“But [last year] we had six ... it’s the first time we’ve had a year like that in 15 years,” he said.
Horton hopes this year’s crowds will compensate for last year’s weather.
The continued trend of people cutting back on vacations and staying home could help, he said.
“I think the economy the way it is, probably within a 100-mile radius, your counties that are on our borders that surround us will come to the fair,” he said.
“Families are looking for a value and when you really look at the fair, you can come around and pick some of the special days with ride specials or admission specials.”
Gravitt said he and city council members attend the fair daily to “try to meet and greet everybody.”
“I just enjoy meeting people and it’s a great place to see a lot of friends,” he said. “We really enjoy going.”