Fair competitions showcase local tradition, connections
Published on August 13, 2025
The Cabarrus County Fair is so much more than rides, games and deep-fried eats.
Since its founding in 1953, the fair has showcased artistic expression and friendly competition. The 2025 edition of the fair runs September 5 through 13 with hundreds of competition categories ranging from livestock, horticulture and field crops to arts, crafts and more.
Each year, the fair receives thousands of entries. Locals enter their creations, from quilting and photography to canned and baked goods and much more. With 14 different departments, there’s something for everyone, ages 5 and up.
“Cabarrus County is a close-knit community, and entering these competitions is a wonderful tradition,” said Fair Executive Director Courtney Wyatt. “It allows people to get involved in a personal way, so their work becomes part of the fair. We love seeing all the creations and encourage participation from anyone interested.”
The deadline for entries is August 20.
Quilting connections
Faye McRorie recalls quilting with family in the old fair building before it had air conditioning.
“It would be me, my mom and my grandmother sitting at the quilt at the fair, three generations, sharing stories of our lives,” McRorie said. “It's such a joy to sit and share your life with people that you love.”
Quilting has also brought McRorie closer to the Cabarrus community. She has taught local children quilting techniques such as tacking. She's also collaborated with other members of the community to create quilts from feed sacks, some dating back to the 1940s and ’50s.
She recalls a man asking her to finish his wife’s quilt after the woman became too ill to complete it. McRorie quickly gathered friends to help honor the request. The quilt featured a cross stitch of the couple’s wedding date and the quote “love lasts forever.”
When the woman’s family brought her to see the finished quilt, nearly everyone broke down in tears.
“That’s the most meaningful quilt that we’ve ever done at the Cabarrus County Fair,” McRorie said.
Sharing skills and memories
Many enter fair competitions to learn new skills and share their talents.
Freida Cook has competed since she was 8 years old, entering dozens of categories ranging from baked goods to plants, sewing and crochet.
Her favorite is photography.
“With photography, you can capture the emotion,” she said. “If it's a happy moment or a loving moment, we capture those emotions through our cameras.”
Cook has captured special moments with her family, such as her granddaughter’s first horse show and her nephew’s wedding. Some of these photos have earned blue ribbons.
For Cook, however, winning isn’t the most important thing.
The real joy lies in walking through the competition halls, seeing everyone’s skills on display and having meaningful conversations with friends, old and new.
“The fair brings out the best in people,” she said. “We share the good times and to me, that's what the fair is about.”
Preserving traditions
While many enjoy the artistic categories, others honor the county's rich agricultural history by participating in the food preservation competitions.
Martha Alward is a canner.
For Alward, canning is a family affair. The whole family spends the day preparing entries together. The young children pick fruits and vegetables, shuck corn and string green beans. This year, she’s preparing peaches, cherries and green beans.
“I just think it's good for us to get back to doing these things,” Alward said. “Having a garden, learning how to preserve things and being together.”
Baking for the next generation
Baking is also a popular category. Dawn Gledhill often enters homemade cookies and sourdough bread. This year, her grandsons are entering the competition for the first time.
Gledhill will use her experience to help them bake cakes that are, hopefully, award-winning.
Even if their cakes don’t win, Gledhill is excited to spend quality family time in the kitchen. “With my grandsons, it's going to be fun to teach them the joy of baking,” she says.
Gledhill knows the importance of getting young people involved in the community. Many life lessons can be learned from the competitions, regardless of category.
Competition information
Entry forms are due August 20. Competitions run throughout the fair, with judging occurring September 4 to 13.
Each participant is limited to one entry per code, and entries must have been created within the past year. Judging for educational exhibits and individual entries takes place Thursday, September 4, while livestock judging occurs throughout the fair.
Most winning entries will remain on display in the Gold Hall of the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center for the duration of the fair. Wyatt encourages fairgoers to stop by and experience the talents of their neighbors.
All competition information can be found in the 2025 Fair Catalog. Visit cabarruscountyfair.com and click the “2025 Competitions” tile to find the link for the Fair Catalog.