The Winston-Salem Fairgrounds may be best known for hosting the annual Carolina Classic Fair each October, but the property also invites guests to enjoy a surprisingly diverse lineup of events, activities and entertainment throughout the entire year.
The fairgrounds welcomed more than 600,000 people from July 2024 to June 2025, with visitors hailing from all 50 states and several countries, earning its status as a major economic driver for the region.
“A report by Johnson Consulting showed that the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds contributed $115.6 million to our local economy in 2024,” said Robert Mulhearn, public assembly facilities and venue manager for the city of Winston-Salem.
The original Forsyth County Fairgrounds operated primarily as a half-mile dirt oval track for stock-car racing before the Carolina Classic Fair took up permanent residence here in 1951, just one of the major inflection points in the property’s expansive history.
“In 1971, the Winston-Salem Foundation donated all the land including the Coliseum and what is now the Wake Forest Ballpark to the city of Winston-Salem to create a pathway for the fair as a whole and to expand the use of its facilities,” Mulhearn said.
The roughly 70-acre property underwent a name change in 2014, becoming the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds to better represent the scope of events and activities it presents in addition to the Carolina Classic Fair. The fair, however, remains the fairgrounds’ signature offering, and its biggest annual draw. Now in its 144th year, the event attracts more than 250,000 visitors annually across its 10-day run, traditionally kicking off on the first full week in October.
Beyond the fair itself, a widely varied schedule of fairground activities includes everything from concerts, sports, cultural festivals and trade shows to community events, public ice-skating sessions, three of the four largest 5Ks in Winston-Salem and a year-round farmers market. Since 2017, the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena has served as the home ice of the professional minor league Twin City Thunderbirds hockey team, transitioning into a music venue for a spring-summer concert series in the off-season.
“With our team of 10 (full-time employees), we typically host over 100 events a year,” Mulhearn said.
The fairgrounds staff works hand-in-hand with regional partners to function smoothly, and to pursue avenues for giving back to the local community.
“We work with city leadership and with Visit Winston-Salem on opportunities to elevate the future of the fairgrounds,” Mulhearn said. “We also welcome the participation of nonprofits and volunteers during the fair.”
In the end, what makes the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds such an iconic local landmark boils down to the experiences shared by and lasting memories made for those who visit.
“We’ve been around for decades, we’re in the heart of Wake Forest University, and we have versatile venues that can host a variety of events to bring our community together,” Mulhearn said. “We’re really proud of the things that happen here.”
For a full schedule of upcoming events and additional information, visit wsfairgrounds.com.
