Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Salem Fair kicked off on Wednesday and will run through Sunday, July 14 at the Salem Civic Center/Taliaferro Complex. It will be open to the public from 4-10 p.m. on weekdays and 12-10 p.m. on weekends.
This year marks the 36th anniversary of the fair, which draws in between 250,000-350,000 patrons annually. Spread out across 14 acres, the fair is comprised of 40 rides and over 30 food vendors. Some of the rides include the Haunted Mansion, Grande Wheel, Crazy Chopper, Starship 4000, and Zero Gravity.
Shuttle buses will run constantly from the old General Electric facility on Roanoke Boulevard to the fair starting in the evenings once fair parking lots are full. Starting this year, the area in front of the Salem Civic Center will be closed to vehicle traffic to help pedestrians move easier from the shuttle bus drop-off and parking lots while at the fair.
Free music will be performed nightly at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. on the Hart Motors Musical Stage. The schedule includes Credence Clearwater Recital on July 4, Mountain Highway on July 5, Pleading the 5th on July 6, Glen Shelton on July 7, Last Chance Band on July 8, Midnight Blue on July 9, The Kings on July 10, Cimmaron on July 11, Vinyl Nation on July 12, Cimmaron on July 13 and Phat Boys Band on July 14.
Returning free shows this year include Danny Grant Cowboy Circus, Woody’s Barnyard Racers, Small World of Agriculture and Hilby: The German Juggling Boy. New shows this year include Wildlife Wendy and Her Tropical Birds, Dynamo Dogs & Pool Party Pooches and Richard Barker: Incredible Hypnotist.
Some of the food will include kettle corn, gyros, funnel cakes, sausage, shish kabobs and turkey legs.
Commercial exhibits and air-conditioned comfort can be found inside the Salem Civic Center.
