WS Chronicle

Get ready for unbeatable eats, rip-roaring rides, show-stopping spectacles, creative competitions and Gospel Fest as Advance Tickets to the 2018 Dixie Classic Fair at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds in the heart of North Carolina are on sale now.

This year’s event revels in all the things that make this North Carolina’s second largest agricultural fair “Your Beacon to Fun” – memorable Grandstand events, unique exhibits, a look a yesteryear and a salute to tomorrow.

Gospel Fest, known for its soul warming variety of gospel music, will return on two Sundays, Sept. 30 and Oct. 7.

New this year is Beacon Technology. The Dixie Classic Fair is giving away $1,000 worth of digital Dixie Classic coupons every day that can be redeemed for fair food, ride tickets and other prices – that’s a total of $10,000 in giveaways. To be eligible, visitors simply configure their smartphones to receive the special digital Dixie Classic coupons that will be sent by digital beacons set up throughout the fairgrounds. Coupons can be redeemed first-come, first served up to the quantity specified in the coupon. Additional instructions can be found on page 13 of the Fair’s Catalog.

Advance Tickets are on sale online through Ticketmaster and on the Fair’s website, www.dcfair.com and ends on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 11:59 p.m. Online sales will be promoted via the Fair’s social media links on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Advance Tickets can be purchased with no convenience charges at the Annex Box Office located at 414 Deacon Boulevard, Winston-Salem; hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Advance Ticket prices are $8 for adults (regularly $10 for ages 12 and older) and $3 for children (regularly $5 for ages 6-11). Children under age 5 and senior adults (age 65+ with an ID) are free.

Advance Sale Strates Ride Coupons are $10 for 30 credits (regularly $15, Ticketmaster service fees apply if purchased online). Exchange your Advance Sale Ride Coupon for a ride card on the Carnival Midway. The coupon exchanged for a wristband on Carnival Midway when you arrive at the Fair.

The Advance Sale Strates Ride Coupon and Unlimited Ride Coupon are only available in advance of opening of the Fair. Ticketmaster has eliminated its order processing fee. Online fees for tickets will be $0.50 for tickets, and $0.75 for ride Coupons.

The 2018 Dixie Classic Fair schedule is below. Fireworks by Zambelli launch nightly at 9:45 p.m.

*Friday, September 28 – Opening Day

11 a.m. – Gates, Exhibit Halls and Midway – Strates Shows Open

10 p.m. – Exhibit Halls Close

11 p.m. – Fairgrounds Close

*Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30:

9 a.m. – Gates, Exhibit Halls and Midway – Strates Shows Open

3 p.m. to 6 p.m.- Gospel Fest (on Sunday)

10 p.m. – Exhibit Halls Close

11 p.m. – Fairgrounds Close

*Monday October 1: City of Winston Salem/107.5 KZL Unlimited Ride Discount Day & School Day

9 a.m. – School Day (Preschool – 5th Grade)

11 a.m. – Open to the Public: Gates, Exhibit Halls and Midway – Strates Shows Open to The Public

10 p.m. – Exhibit Halls Close

11 p.m. – Fairgrounds Close

*Tuesday, October 2: City of Winston Salem/107.5 KZL Unlimited Ride Discount Day & Senior Adult Day

9 a.m. – Senior Adult Day

10 a.m. – Exhibit Halls Open

11 a.m. – Open to the Public: Gates, Midway – Strates Shows Open to The Public

10 p.m. – Exhibit Halls Close

11 p.m. – Fairgrounds Close

*Wednesday, October 3: Special Education Day & Crisis Control Ministry Food Day

9 a.m. – Special Education Day

11 a.m. – Open to the Public: Gates, Exhibit Halls, and Midway – Strates Shows Open

10 p.m. – Exhibit Halls Close

11 p.m. – Fairgrounds Close

*Thursday, October 4: Military Appreciation Day sponsored by WXII TV

City of Winston Salem/107.5 KZL Unlimited Ride Discount Day

11 a.m. – Gates, Exhibit Halls, Midway – Strates Shows Open

10 p.m. – Exhibit Halls Close 11:00 pm – Fairgrounds Close

11 p.m. – Fairgrounds Close

*Friday, October 5:

11 a.m. – Gates, Exhibit Halls, Midway – Strates Shows Open

10 p.m. – Exhibit Halls Close

11 p.m. – Fairgrounds Close

*Saturday, October 6: Winston-Salem Journal Family Fun Day at the Fair

9 a.m. – Gates, Exhibit Halls and Midway – Strates Shows Open

10 p.m. – Exhibit Halls Close

11 p.m. – Fairgrounds Close

*Sunday, October 7: Winston-Salem Journal Family Fun Day at the Fair

11 a.m. – Gates, Exhibit Halls and Midway – Strates Shows Open

3 p.m. to 6 p.m.- Gospel Fest

10 p.m. – Exhibit Halls Close

11 p.m. – Fairgrounds Close