FLETCHER, N.C. (828newsNOW) — State and regional safety officials congregated at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center today to provide reassurance and a safety update in advance of the NC Mountain State Fair this weekend.
The NC Mountain State Fair will be held Sept. 11-20, 2026, at the WNC Agricultural Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd, Fletcher, N.C.
For more information about the event, including ticket deals, read our story: NC Mountain State Fair returns in September 2026 with special ticket days
Speakers gathered in front of the Appalachian Mountain Lift gondola ride at the fairgrounds around 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, to deliver remarks about safety at the fair.
“As we prepare for this year’s event, with all the excitement, and the fun and the community engagement, I mean, that’s all good, but the biggest thing is the safety of all the fairgoers, and the staff and the vendors,” said Jeff Barham, general manager of the NC Mountain State Fair. “Everybody here plays a vital role in maintaining this secure environment, and everyone’s awareness and preparedness is key. I know we’re all gonna work together to make this a really fun and safe event.”
One of the changes the fair is making for the 2026 event is a clear bag policy.
All fairgoers should leave opaque purses, backpacks and knapsacks at home this year. Instead, bring plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that measure 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches or less.
There will be exceptions for medical bags and diaper bags, although these are subject to search.
Fair officials also made it clear that the rides at the festival would be safe and routinely inspected.
“At the North Carolina Department of Labor, we are responsible for making sure every single fair ride or carnival ride, whether this fair or any other fair in the state, is safe,” said Luke Farley, North Carolina Commissioner of Labor. “Safe for you, safe for your children, safe for everybody who steps aboard a ride here. I am proud to tell you that North Carolina has the strictest ride safety standards in the country.”
Farley said that nine safety inspectors had spent 390 man hours inspecting 40 different fair rides in advance of the event.
“They have been testing, verifying and ensuring that every ride here meets the rigorous safety standards that we have in North Carolina. But I do want the public to know that our job does not end just tomorrow when the fair opens,” Farley said. “Throughout the entire run of the Mountain State Fair, we will have at least two inspectors on the ground, on-site, every hour that the fair is open. They’ll be performing operational safety checks and making sure that these rides continue to operate safely throughout the entire fair.”
The fair will also feature a significant number of law enforcement and security officers.
“We have more than 28 different law enforcement agencies and around 120 sworn law enforcement officers that will be working this fair. Adding in all of our other security partners, our gate security, our first responders, our non-sworn officers, we have more than 200 members on our security team,” said Glen Coley of the North Carolina Forest Service. “We’re excited with what each one of these members can bring to the team. Everyone has different disciplines and specialties, and that makes us a very, very unique team and very capable to deliver the safety that needs to go on here.”
Officials issued several more safety tips, including:
- Dress comfortably for weather
- Make sure children know parents’ phone numbers, or carry parents’ phone numbers, in case they get lost
- Make sure parents know what their children are wearing in case a child is lost
For more information about the NC Mountain State Fair, visit www.wncagcenter.org/p/mountainstatefair.