Step right on up — the 144th Carolina Classic Fair opens today.

Attracting more than 250,000 visitors, the annual event brings together carnival rides and games, music, mouthwatering food, arts and crafts, and agriculture for 10 straight days of fun. This year’s fair theme is “red, white, and moo,” in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.

Fun fact: the fair predates the city of Winston-Salem, having begun as a wheat exhibition in Salem in 1882.

From parking and pricing to special events and new foods, we’ve gathered up everything you need to know to make your time at the Carolina Classic more than fair.

Tickets

Tickets to the fair cost $10 when purchased online or $13 at the gate. Children 5 + under get in for free.

Ride tickets are $0.50 each, with most rides needing anywhere from 6-12 tickets. You can purchase unlimited ride wristbands. On weekdays, these cost $35 and are valid the entire day. Wristbands cost $30 on the weekends, but have time restrictions.

Special admission promos

Today, Oct. 2: $5 admission
All weekdays: Free admission before 1 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 5: Free admission when you bring 3 school supply items
Tuesday, Oct. 6: $3 admission + free admission for adults 55+
Wednesday, Oct. 7: Free admission when you bring 5 non-perishable food items + free admission for people with special needs and their caregivers
Thursday, Oct. 8: $5 admission for college students with a valid ID + free admission for active and retired military and immediate family with a military ID + free admission when you bring a bag of clean, gently used clothing
Friday, Oct. 9: Free admission for kids 11 and under until 6 p.m.

Pro tip: Check the fair’s website for ride promotions.

Parking

Parking will be available at LJVM Coliseum and Allegacy Financial Stadium parking lots for $10 daily.

Special instructions for Oct. 3

Please note that Wake Forest has a home football game at noon on Saturday, Oct. 3. To ease traffic congestion, free shuttles are available from free, alternative parking lots located at 2400 Reynolda Rd. and at 3730 University Parkway. Shuttles run from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Operating on a first-come, first-served basis, the Pepsi and Senior Services lots will cost $40 and the Second Harvest and Whitaker Lofts lots will cost $30. Fees will return to $10 in the evening, after football traffic clears. Check here for more information.

Grandstand shows + entertainment

The grandstand at the Carolina Classic Fair has something happening each day, from demolition derbies to rodeos to monster trucks.

It will also host two concerts, each at 7:30 p.m. On Tuesday, Oct. 6, The Band Perry will perform and on Wednesday, Oct. 7, We Are Messengers will grace the stage. Pro tip: Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for these shows, so be sure to get there early to get a seat.

Outside the grandstand, fairgoers will still find plenty of entertainment, including a rides, games, and a nightly fireworks show. Catch Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel perform Oct. 2-6 at 12:30 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Or try to win a prize in a scavenger hunt after picking up a stamp card from the Chevy Clock Tower Information Booth.

We’re most excited for Joey Chestnut, the world-famous competitive eater. He’ll be hosting a meet + greet on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 5:30 p.m. There’s only 50 tickets for the meet + greet; they cost $58 and include a special t-shirt.

Sadly, Joey won’t be participating in the fair’s hot dog eating contest, which starts at 7 p.m. that night., but perhaps you can impress him — registration for the contest is open until Oct. 7 at 10 p.m.

You’ll also find exhibits spanning nearly every interest. Head to Yesterday Village to explore antique equipment displays, blacksmith demonstrations, and an old tobacco barn.

New foods this year

You’ll be able to find your favorite foods, from all things fried to things you never imagined could be on a stick. See the vendors and where they’ll be.

Acropolis, a Greek-themed concession, will make its debut this year. It will serve gyros, chicken pitas, shish kebabs, Greek salads and fries, from under a stand that rises 30 ft in the air.

Fresh Fruit Candy is another new addition to the vendor line-up. They’ll serve Tanghulu, a traditional Chinese street snack of skewers with fresh fruit coated in a sugar shell, plus fruit-shaped ice cream.

Other new foods include:

Hot honey + pimento cheese pick chips (available at Chester’s)
Bourbon slaw dog (available at Keepin it Fair Concessions)
Peach cobbler on a stick (available at Thrist Bros)
Street elote (available at Vic’s Grill Puerto Rican Cuisine)