A beloved tradition, 2024 Georgia National Fair opens in Perry. What you need to know
Celebrating “35 years of magic,” the 2024 Georgia National Fair got underway Thursday afternoon.
“The Georgia National Fair is more than cotton candy, concerts and carnival games,” Visit Perry posted on Facebook. “It’s a spectacular celebration of Georgia’s vibrant culture, arts and agriculture.”
The 11-day fair includes home and fine arts competitions, horse and livestock shows, family entertainment, food, rides and games, concerts, vendors and nightly fireworks.
Admission
Daily admission is $15 for anyone 11 and up and $10 for seniors 60 and up. Children 10 and under get in free. Tickets for rides are $1.25 each.
Ways to save include a two-day pass for $25 and a season pass for $95. Adult tickets are $5 off on Oct. 3, 8, 9 and 13, and armbands for unlimited rides may be purchased Oct. 3-4, 7-11 and on Oct. 13 for $30 or $35 depending on the day.
Additionally, military personnel and their immediate family get in free with a military ID card on Patriot Day, Oct. 6.
Food
Visitors can expect more than 60 food vendors offering traditional fair foods, including funnel cakes, candied apples, cotton candy, kettle corn, turkey legs, roasted corn, Philly cheesesteaks, polish sausages, pizza and more.
For Maryland crabcakes, shrimp seafood boil, frog legs and alligator on a stick, check out Big G’s Food Service. London broil steak sandwiches can be found at F & W Concessions while Boardwalk Noodles offers noodle bowls with fresh vegetables topped with chicken, steak or shrimp.
A new vendor this year, Salter’s Concessions, offers pretzel dogs, pretzel brats, pretzel kielbasa and baked potatoes.
GNF’s third annual food fair fight takes place online in which fairgoers may vote for new food creations from multiple vendors.
Events
Popular returning events include Robinson’s Racing Pigs in which the prize is an Oreo cookie, Nerveless Nocks Extreme Water Ski and Stunt Show Spectacular featuring water skiing and Hollywood stunt performers, and Mutton Bustin’, where kids ages 4-8 and weighing less than 65 pounds are invited to try to ride a sheep for a full six seconds.
Listed as a new event, the Space Adventures Thrill Show features a motorcycle globe, aerial and trampoline stunts, fire performances and more.
Concerts
This year’s lineup of nightly concerts includes country artist Josh Turner, ‘80s and ‘90s band Warrant, and R&B artist Ginuwine.
A playlist to listen to some of the featured artist is on the GNF website.
Here’s the concert lineup:
Thursday, Oct. 3: Bellamy Brothers
Friday, Oct. 4: Josh Turner
Saturday. Oct. 5: Grapevine
Sunday, Oct. 6: Southside Worship
Monday, Oct. 7: West Love & The 478 Band
Tuesday, Oct. 8: Warrant
Wednesday, Oct. 9: Ginuwine
Thursday, Oct. 10 Cooper Alan
Friday, Oct. 11: Yachtley Crew
Saturday, Oct. 12: Marshall Charloff Purple Xperience
Sunday, Oct. 13: Rumba Latina
Vendors
All sorts of vendors flock to the GNF, from those offering homemade goods to tractors and farm equipment.
A Blend Above Midwest offers gourmet dips, spreads, desserts and soups. Jams, jellies, honey and hot sauces can be found at Country Sweets, while Lund Works offers handmade leather belts, wallets and purses.
Dog lovers can find treats made in the shapes of fair food at Annie’s Pooch Pops, while Pups Up offers sweatshirts, over-the-collar bandanas, slow feeders, harnesses, collars and leashes.
Lather in Love LLC offers organic soaps, body butters, sugar scrubs and dry herbal teas, while puppets, handmade jewelry and clothing are offered for sale at Unique Designs.
Exhibits & competitions
Two new living competitions this year are both in the Miller-Murphey-Howard building on the same day.
The 35 Years of Magic Fair Food Contest is a competition to celebrate the 35 years of iconic fair food featured at the GNF. It’s at 12;30 p.m. Oct 10.
Recipes from 1990s movies is a competition in which contestants will create dishes inspired by movies from the 1990s. It’s at 7 p.m Oct. 10.
Returning this year is the Georgia Crown Baby Barn, a live birthing center and newborn nursery for farm animals at the Georgia Crown Building.
GNF hours
Gates are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with food and outside vendors remaining open an hour later until 10 p.m.
Midway hours are noon to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The McGill Marketplace is open noon to 9 p.m Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The Georgia Crown Building, Heritage Hall and Miller Murphy Howard buildings are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tips
The clock tower in the middle of the sprawling 1,100-acre GNF is a good place to meet up, especially if separated from your party.
Both an event schedule and a fair map can be downloaded from the GNF website.
Parking is always free and available at the North, East, and West Gates.
The last day of the GNF is Oct. 13.
Visit the GNF website at georgianationalfair.com for more information.
