Organizers look to improve Hamilton County Fair
SALE CREEK, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Hamilton County Fair will be returning to McDonald Farm in Sale Creek this November.
Over 40,000 people attended last year’s inaugural fair there.
After the success of last year’s Hamilton County Fair, organizers plan bigger things for this year’s festivities.
Country musician Larry Fleet will be this year’s headliner.
Officials announce the 2024 Hamilton County Fair.
He is joined by Sister Hazel and hometown artist Brandon Davis as music will be held both the Friday and Saturday night of Veteran’s Day weekend.
Additionally, the rodeo will make its return this year, along with the celebration of our region’s agricultural heritage.
Renita “Shorty” Beaty, an Urban Conservationist for Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District, said, “We’re moving into the fourth generation being moved into the farm so most people you know I do ag education, and most kids I talk to don’t know where milk came from. They think it comes from Food City or Publix. “
One of the main problems organizers say they had last year was traffic flow coming into the fair. They say especially with a lot of people coming in from the south from Chattanooga, traffic backed up along 27 northbound. They believe they have found solutions to ease that traffic flow congestion.
Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett said, “The second night of last year’s festival, they changed the flow of traffic, my staff did along with Highway Patrol, and designed it to allow both northbound 27 and southbound 27 traffic that was wanting to access the fairgrounds for parking, to access together. So they had two inbound lanes.”
The fair according to leaders also signals a commitment to maintain McDonald Farm’s natural beauty, as its future continues to be discussed.
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp said, “The farm doesn’t belong to the county government, to those of us with an elected title, it belongs to the taxpayers of Hamilton County… The homestead is always going to be protected. That has always been the intent of the county that this is going to be park space, community space, and we’re still dreaming the dreams of what the park could look like. The rest of space, those discussions are still ongoing.”
The fair will once again feature free amusement rides among other attractions.
Tickets are $13 for a weekend pass if you order ahead of time.
Kids under 10 get in for free and discounts are available for several groups.
