The Salem Fair, which bills itself as the largest free gate fair in the country, returns Wednesday.
The 37th annual Salem Fair will feature about 40 rides and more than 30 food vendors. Hundreds of thousands of patrons attend the fair each year, enjoying free shows, free concerts, rides, blue ribbon exhibits and more.
The fair, which includes 14 acres of carnival space, takes place at the James E. Taliaferro Sports and Entertainment Complex. The Salem Civic Center and the fair have a clear bag policy in place for security purposes, and those coming to the fair will be subject to bag checks and metal detection screening upon entry.
There are 2,000 parking spots available, but once the parking lots are full, shuttle buses will run from the old General Electric facility on Roanoke Boulevard to the fair.
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Ride wristbands will be available for purchase at the fair daily.
The Roanoke Times, File 2022
The fair runs through July 13. It will be open Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.
Children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian who is at least 25 with a valid I.D.
Admission to the fair, as well as access to shows, concerts and exhibits, is free. There are charges for rides, games, food and merchandise.
The Salem Fair is the largest free gate fair in America.
Salem Fair
Exhibits
Commercial and blue ribbon exhibits will be on display on the arena floor of the Civic Center on weekdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on weekends from noon to 9 p.m.
Concerts
A free concert will take place each night at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The lineup is as follows:
July 2: Pleading the 5th
July 3: Mountain Highway
July 4: Creedence Clearwater Recital
July 5: Travis Reigh
July 6: Glen Shelton
July 7: The Kings
July 8: Thunder Ridge
July 9: Midnight Blue
July 10: Patchwork
July 11: Vinyl Nation
July 12: Cimmaron
July 13: Cimmaron
The Salem Fair will run from Wednesday through July 13.
The Roanoke Times, File 2021
Shows
Fireworks presented by the U.S. Marines will start on Friday, July 4 at around 9:30 p.m., weather permitting.
The All American Pig Races will take place weekdays at 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and on weekends at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Young pigs race around an oval-shaped rink during Hedrick’s Racing Pigs at the Salem Fair in 2007.
The Roanoke Times, File 2007
The Danny Grant Cowboy Circus will happen weekdays at 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and on weekends at 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The Small World of Agriculture will take place Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on weekends from noon to 10 p.m.
The Disc Connected K9’s will perform on weekdays at 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and on weekends at 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Catherine Hickland: Mind Reading and Hypnosis will take place on weekdays at 4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., and on weekends at 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Hilby the German Juggling Boy will perform weekdays at 4 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and on weekends at 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Prices
While admission to the fair is free, those interested in the rides must purchase a ride wristband. Wristbands are sold daily until 9 p.m., except for Saturdays, when they are only available until 8 p.m.
July 2: $20 wristband before 6 p.m., $30 after.
July 3: Family 4-Pack Night, four wristbands for $100 before 6 p.m., $32 each after.
July 4: $27 wristband before 6 p.m., $35 after.
July 5: $23 afternoon ride wristband valid from noon to 5 p.m. and must be purchased before 4 p.m., $39 all-day wristband valid from noon to 10 p.m.
July 6: $23 all-day wristband valid from noon to 10 p.m. and must be purchased before 4 p.m., $29 wristband after.
July 7: Pepsi Night, $25 wristband with two Pepsi proof of purchase, $33 without.
July 8: $29 wristbands.
July 9: $23 wristband with two pairs of new socks, $32 without.
July 10: $23 wristband with two items of non-perishable food, $33 without.
July 11: $27 wristband before 6 p.m., $35 after.
July 12: $23 afternoon ride wristband valid from noon to 5 p.m. and must be purchased before 4 p.m., $39 all-day wristband valid from noon until 10 p.m.
July 13: $23 all-day wristband sold between noon and 4 p.m., $30 wristband after.
Lily Kincaid
(540) 986-5851