The 30th NC Mountain State Fair is fast approaching! Here are a few reminders and updates.
Mandatory Vendor Meetings before the fair starts.
There needs to be a representative from each business there. We encourage letting your employees that will be in your booth working to be at the meeting so they will understand what to expect from inspectors and other fair departments.
- Outside Vendors: September 5, 2024, at 10:00am, location is at Leons Tent behind the Chairlift on the lower grounds. Inspections will start following the meeting.
- Inside Vendors: September 5, 2024, at 6:00pm, location is inside the Davis Event Center.
Optional Food Vendor Zoom Meeting:
August 21, 2024 at 10:00am - Teams Meeting for Food Vendors (Optional but strongly encouraged) We would like for you to pass the meeting information onto your employees that will be helping you within your booth. There will be members from each department represented at this meeting: Buncombe County Health, NCDA – Food & Drug, NCDA – Meat & Poultry, NCDA – Standards/Propane, and fair staff.
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 247 350 791 848
Passcode: 8yAhWg
Check-in
From Airport Road/Boylston Hwy turn left into Gate # 5, across from the airport, park and go the Davis Event Center, entering the door close to Proving Grounds Cafe.
Move In and Set Up
Monday, September 2, 2024- 8:30 am till 7:00pm
Tuesday, September 3, 2024- 8:30 am till 7:00pm
Wednesday, September 4, 2024- 8:30 am till 7:00 pm
Thursday, September 5, 2024 - 8:30 am till 7:00 pm
If you are planning to be here before Wednesday, please let us know so we can plan accordingly.
Those who connect/plug in outside prior to Wednesday, September 6, 2023, will be charged for electrical hook up at $25.00 per day after receiving Management approval for early arrival.
Permit to Operate
The Permit to Operate along with parking passes, admission passes, and all other applicable permits must be picked up in the Exhibits and Concessions Office before taking possession of your space.
The Permit To Operate will be issued after:
1) a signed contract is provided,
2) payment in full or a zero balance is on the account
3) a correct Certificate of Liability Insurance has been received and
4) any other requirements are complete.
Hours of Operation
All indoor exhibits must be open, operating and adequately staffed from 9:00am – 9:00pm on weekends, 3:00pm – 9:00pm on weekdays. Outside concessions and exhibits are expected to open on time and remain open until 11:00pm (midnight on Friday and Saturday if you choose).
Food Vendors
The Buncombe County Environmental Health Department requirement is that payment is received in their office 15 days prior to the event, August 21, 2024. If payment in not received by that date, they will not inspect the food concession; therefore, you will not be able to open. The Temporary Food Establishment Application is available from our web site, www.wncagcenter.org – under NC Mountain State Fair – Vendor Information.
Food Concessions – Each water hose connected to a water source is required to have a back flow preventer. A good idea is to have a splitter as well. Familiarize yourself with the Buncombe County requirements and adhere to them.
Buncombe County Environmental Health inspectors will be on the grounds on Thursday, September 5th from 1:30pm – 4:30pm. If you would like an earlier inspection, or if you won’t be ready until Friday, September 6th, please contact Jennifer Thompson in that office (828.250.5228)
Pepsi soda products only may be sold and served, as they have exclusive beverage rights for the Fair and the WNC Agricultural Center. Water is of your own choosing and specialty drinks as approved according to your contract. Please remember NO Glass Bottles/Containers are to be sold.
Please use the Wholesale Vendors that are on grounds for food, ice, and bread purchases. Even though this is not a requirement, their presence is a tremendous convenience. They will be glad to work with you for a special item. Their contact information is as follows:
Wholesale Vendors for fair supplies
Shuler Meats - Wholesale food, Bread, and Ice Provider
Ryan Russo-cell:336-442-2489, Direct Work # 336-474-5835, Email: ryanr@shulermeats.com
Bobby Childress-cell:336-906-9746, Direct Work # 336-474-5839 , Email bobbyc@shulermeats.com
Victor Products - cotton candy equipment, sticks, cellophane, other supplies - 804-643-9091 / email Christa Quinlan christa@victorproducts.com
G&B Energy - Propane Provider for the NC Mountain State Fair - 828-891-7371- 5046 Boylston Hwy., Mills River, NC 28759
NCDA & CS - Meat & Poultry Division
They will be conducting compliance verification for storage of meat and poultry products as well as ensuring products are properly labeled and originated from USDA or NCDA inspected facilities. They are requiring an ID sticker with contact information be placed on all storage trailers parked on the grounds.
Inside booth spaces that sell food items are required to have a handwashing station.
Do not add food items or water to your menu or sell novelty/jewelry items that are not showing in the Product(s) section of the contract. Review items on your contract now. If they are not in agreement with what you plan to sale, please call and let’s talk about any changes.
Passbooks
Daily admission passes for those working will be in you Check-in-Packet. If you need more than what is listed below for your area you will need to purchase them at the Exhibits and Concessions Office.
(1 box of 10 tickets is $50.00)
- Inside Booth:
- 10’ X 10’ receive 2 books of passes
- 20’ X 10’ receive 4 books of passes
- Outside Space:
- 20’ space receive 3 books of passes
- 30 front feet receive 4 books of passes
- 40 front feet receive 5 books of Passes
Davis Event Center
Booths are set as pipe and drapery with 8-foot back draperies and 3-foot side draperies. The North Carolina Mountain State Fair does not furnish tables, chairs, extension cords or trash cans. You may bring your own or use the Contracted Decorator. The contractor is SES (Southern Exhibition Services) for 2023. Their forms and information are on our website. They can be reached at 800-882-7469,
www. SouthernExhibiton.com or info@Southern-Exhibition.com.
The Davis Event Center will be unlocked one hour prior to the Fair Gates. If you need in earlier than this to stock, you must notify us so that we can tell Security to allow your entry. We do this to keep the building and your booth items as secure as possible.
Each vendor will be issued two hang tags for ID purposes. If you or one of your staff needs to get into the building early, you must wear one of these hang tags.
Please Note:No tent canopies may be placed inside Davis Event Center. They block the water from the sprinklers if a fire should occur. This is in keeping with the guidelines of the Fire Marshall.
Parking
Parking passes will be included in your check-in packets. Outside vendors will use parking lot 6B, accessed through Gate 7. Inside vendors will be issued parking passes for Gate 5 parking.
Entrance 6B is open 24/7. Access the grounds through Gate 7, go to Entrance 6B to restock before buildings and gates open to the public.
Display Vehicles (tractors, mowers, etc.) must be staffed at all times. No keys are to be left in these vehicles. It is suggested to unplug batteries when possible.
Media
If you would like to be featured in any of our media outlets, please fill out the PR Google Form. https://forms.gle/gn44DvJHMZkD7JDcA We cannot guarantee everyone will get listed but we try our best.
Whole Hog Competition
This year we will have a Whole Hog Competition on the 1st Saturday of the fair. If you have a team interested in participating here is the link: https://wholehogbarbecue.com/series/mountain-state-fair-cookoff/
Fair Vendor Competitions
We have new competitions for our vendors. Jump in on the fun!
Overall - Inside/OutsideInside Vendors Outside Vendors
Best New Food Best Fair Spirit Best Fair Spirit
Best New Food Runner-up Best Educational Best Educational
Judge’s Awards Judge’s Awards
Best Over All Best Over All