ECHOES FROM THE PAST - FAIR HISTORY
service payments. The mission of the Fairgrounds is to plan, promote and produce the annual Fair to enhance the quality of life for our citizens by providing year-round facilities for agricultural, fraternal, education, social and entertainment activities and events. The Fair continues to develop a long-range capital improvement program that will enhance the quality of service and appearance of the Fairgrounds complex. The Carolina Classic Fair is the second largest Fair in North Carolina and one of the largest in North America. Recent improvements include a new pedestrian entrance gate off Shorefair Drive (East Gate), a new connector into the midway area, new midway restrooms and a gazebo in the Plaza area of the Fairgrounds. Landscaping efforts continue to enhance the appearance of the Fairgrounds for the enjoyment of Fairgoers as well as the many thousands of people utilizing the facilities during off-season. In 2019 the City of Winston-Salem changed the name to Carolina Classic Fair. In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Carolina Classic Fair was canceled and opened “The Drive Thru Presented by Carolina Classic Fair” to provide fair-goers a safe way to enjoy fair food. Midway Strates Shows, Inc., owned and operated by the E. James Strates family, has provided the midway, shows, rides and games since October 1964. Prior to this, the World of Mirth, Frank Bergen, provided the midway, until bankruptcy closed the business in October, 1963. Education Building The Education Building was built in 1992, heated and air conditioned to accommodate events off season - circus, boat shows, dog shows, company picnics, auctions, training, trade shows, gem shows, antique shows, craft shows, computer shows, and many, many more. During the Fair, the Education Building houses competitive exhibits - arts and crafts, hobbycrafts, photography, collections, clothing, baked goods, food preservation, home furnishings, educational exhibit booths for youth and adults, senior adult exhibits, school art, special children’s exhibits, and other educational and cultural exhibits and attractions. Neil Bolton Home and Garden Building The beautiful Flower Shows are staged in the Home and Garden Building during the Fair, two standard shows that involve talented Garden Club members and other individual exhibitors. The Home and Garden Building was built in 1997 for the purpose of accommodating events of a smaller scale, i.e., meetings, training by Winston-Salem Police Department, seminars and workshops conducted by Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County School System, Garden Council, Winston-Salem Rose Society meetings and workshops, Fair Department meetings and more. The building was named in recognition of Neil Bolton, the Fair Manager from 1956 until his untimely death in 1972. Mr. Bolton is credited with changing the name of the Fair in 1956 to The Carolina Classic Fair of Northwest North Carolina from its previous name of The Winston-Salem Fair. During his tenure, the Fair grew from a local event to a regional Fair. Mr. Bolton oversaw the transition of the Fair from The Winston-Salem Foundation to the City of Winston-Salem in 1969.
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