2011 N.C. Mountain State Fair entertainment lineup features international acts, local musicians

2011 N.C. Mountain State Fair entertainment lineup features international acts, local musicians

High-flying acrobatics and homegrown music are a part of all the “Farm Fresh Fun” waiting for fairgoers at the N.C. Mountain State Fair at the Western N.C. Ag Center, Sept. 9-18.

This year, the N.C. Mountain State Fair will add some international flair to its list of local and regional acts with the Kenya Safari Acrobats. The artistic ambassadors from Kenya will amaze audiences with their high-energy show. End-over-end flips, spectacular displays of balance and strength, and choreographed jump roping are all signatures of this troupe. The group will perform daily near the renovated Davis Event Center.

Other grounds acts include the Zerbini Family Circus, illusionists Josh Knotts & Lea, comedian and hypnotist Mike Bishop, pianist Leon Jacobs Jr., and the entertaining agricultural education show Agricadabra. All shows are included with gate admission to the fair.

More than 50 musical performances also will take place on two stages during the 10-day event. The Bojangles Music Stage will host a variety of local and regional acts with performances Sept. 11-18 at 5 and 8 p.m. Additional performances will be held Sept. 11, and 16-18 at 2 p.m. The lineup features something for everyone from singer-songwriters Leigh Glass and Serious Clark to country acts Nikki Talley and Twisted Trail, as well as the big-band group Buddy K Band and the Johnny Cash tribute band Folsom Prison Gang.

Across the grounds, the Heritage Stage will be the site for the Mountain Music Competition Sept. 11-17. Premiums will be awarded to bands in both bluegrass and old-time categories, and awarded to individual performances in banjo, bass, dobro, dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, mandolin and vocal. Winners will be announced Saturday, Sept. 17, at 9:30 p.m., and the winning bluegrass and old-time bands will return Sunday, Sept. 18, for an encore performance.

Fairgoers can purchase advance tickets through Sept. 8 at participating Ingles stores, the Western N.C. Ag Center and the Western N.C. Farmers Market in Asheville. Adult admission is $6 in advance versus $7 at the gate. Child and senior admission is $2 in advance compared to $3 at the gate. Fairgoers also may want to take advantage of a new special discount offer, the Family Fun Pack, for $30. The pack includes five admission tickets, four coupons good for one ride each and 10 vendor coupons good for discounts on fair foods and at the Airport Road McDonalds.