SPECIAL DAYS AND DISCOUNTS
As in years past, the fair will host its special days, including
Student Days, College Nights, the MUST Ministries canned
goods drive and Senior Citizen’s Day/Hero’s Day, where
selected groups receive free admission. This year, in
recognition of the fight against COVID-19, healthcare
workers have been added to the list of military, police,
firefighters and first responders to be honored on Hero’s
Day, Sept. 24.
Miller said specialty days, which run throughout the
fair, ensures the fair remains a cost-friendly activity for all
Cobb families.
“We give everybody the opportunity to come to the
fair, no matter what your socioeconomic situation is,” Miller
said. “We want to be a good community partner, and we
want everyone to have the opportunity to come to the fair
and enjoy themselves.”
Watson said he wants the fair to be accessible to all
Cobb families, so that they, too, might make the North
Georgia State Fair a family tradition, as it is in the Miller
and Watson households.
“Our kids are growing up with the fair,” Watson said.
“It’s come full circle.”
“We’re staying true to old heritage with petting zoo,
and other traditions like the local photography and art
exhibits,” Watson said. “There are so many layers to it.
You’ve got the rides, you’ve got the vocal entertainment,
you’ve got the ground shows. You can spend 10-11 days
here easy and not see everything. And we’re expecting
record turnout this year.”
In keeping with tradition, all concerts and shows are
free with admission to the fair.
COME FOR THE SHOWS, STAY FOR THE FOOD
Approximately 50 percent of fair attendees don’t ride
rides, “but almost 100% come to eat,” according to Miller.
And whether it’s staples like cotton candy and funnel
cakes or something a bit more… “exotic,” for fair foodies,
this year’s offerings will not disappoint.
To keep menus daring and fresh, Miller offers $500
cash prizes for vendors with the Best Taste and Most
Creative menus. The result, Watson said, is food “on a
whole ‘nother level!”
“We’ve even had deep friend Kool Aid on a stick,”
Watson said. “This is the South. If you can fry it, you’re
gonna do it!”
Miller recommends everyone try at least one of the
“on a stick” culinary offerings, but Watson recommends
the old favorites like strawberry shortcake and elephant
ears. Still, if you offer Watson a jalapeno corndog on a
stick, he won’t say “no.”
“They’re hand-dipped jalapeno corn dogs,” Watson
said. “They’re delicious!”
It’s a Family
Plan Your Day
The North Georgia State Fair runs Sept. 23 – Oct. 3, 2021,
at Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road, Marietta, GA
30008.
General admission is $10; children aged 10 and under are
free.
Ride tickets are $1.25 a piece, with discounts offered for
bulk ticket purchases.
Parking is $5.
Discount tickets can be purchased online, in
advance, or at any Metro Atlanta O’Reilly Auto
Parts store.
For more information, visit
NorthGeorgiaStateFair.com
38 COBB LIFE | SEPTEMBER 2021
/NorthGeorgiaStateFair.com