Fletcher, NC, September 16, 2025

News Summary

The North Carolina Mountain State Fair saw record attendance this year, with over 161,000 visitors enjoying a variety of attractions and celebrating community resilience. The event highlights included delicious fair food, carnival rides, and livestock shows. Despite facing traffic challenges, the fair’s atmosphere remained vibrant and uplifting as families gathered in Fletcher to create lasting memories. Plans are already underway for next year’s event, which promises to build on this year’s successes.

Fletcher, N.C. – Record Attendance and Community Resilience at 2025 North Carolina Mountain State Fair

The 2025 North Carolina Mountain State Fair achieved remarkable success from September 5-14, 2025, at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher, attracting a total attendance of 161,059 visitors. This marks an increase of 11,709 attendees compared to the previous year’s attendance of 149,334, making it the highest in six years. However, attendance remains below the all-time high of 191,596 set in 2013.

The fair offered an impressive array of entertainment, culinary delights, and agricultural showcases, catering to visitors of all ages. Fair-goers indulged in iconic fair foods featuring footlong corndogs and various deep-fried delicacies. Other attractions included carnival rides, games, and livestock shows featuring a showcase of animals such as Ankole-Watusi cattle and pygmy goats.

Celebrating Community Resilience

A significant theme of the fair was community resilience, especially in the wake of a significant event known as “Helene” just one year earlier. The fair manager emphasized the event’s importance as a source of normalcy for families and local businesses, highlighting the sense of community as essential during times of recovery. The event managed to uplift spirits, with a stunning sunset on the fair’s final weekend adding to the festive atmosphere created by the carnival lights.

Challenges Faced

Despite the joyous atmosphere, the fair encountered logistical challenges, particularly in the Asheville area where heavy rainfall and a crash on I-26/I-240 caused major traffic delays, impacting access routes from downtown to South Asheville. This factor did not seem to deter the overall attendance, demonstrating the community’s enthusiasm for the event.

Looking Ahead

As the 2025 fair concluded, excitement is already building for the 32nd North Carolina Mountain State Fair, scheduled for September 11-20, 2026. This year’s fair will likely build on the successes and lessons learned from the recent event, aiming to enhance community engagement and participation further.

Visitors shared sentiments about the fair, highlighting the fun atmosphere, vibrant environment, and prominent community spirit that made their experience memorable. The North Carolina Mountain State Fair continues to be a cornerstone event in the region’s annual calendar.

Key Highlights from the 2025 Fair

• Attendance: 161,059 (an increase of 11,709 from 2024)
• Dates: September 5-14, 2025
• Location: WNC Agricultural Center, Fletcher, N.C.
• Food: Featured iconic fair items including footlong corndogs
• Activities: Included livestock shows with Ankole-Watusi cattle and pygmy goats
• Traffic issues: Delays due to heavy rainfall and accidents impacting access
• Next fair date: September 11-20, 2026

FAQ

Chart of Key Features of the 2025 North Carolina Mountain State Fair

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Additional Resources

• 828 News Now: Snapshots from the 2025 North Carolina Mountain State Fair
• Morning Ag Clips: N.C. Mountain State Fair Wraps Up a Successful 2025 Run
• WLOS: Gallery of 2025 North Carolina Mountain State Fair
• Wikipedia: North Carolina Mountain State Fair
• Britannica: State Fair

Author: STAFF HERE ASHEVILLE WRITER

The ASHEVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAsheville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Asheville, Buncombe County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Asheville Bread Festival, LEAF Festival, and mountain sports tournaments at Biltmore Estate. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in hospitality and brewing that power the local economy such as the Biltmore Estate and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, HERERaleigh.com, and HEREOBX.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.