Rodeo, discount theme nights coming to 2025 Cabarrus County Fair
Published on July 08, 2025
Saddle up, CabCo. The countdown to the 2025 Cabarrus County Fair has begun and savings are on the horizon.
During Monday’s Board of Commissioners July Agenda Meeting, Fair Director Courtney Wyatt and Chief of Staff Todd Shanley laid out the team’s plans, which include four nights of professional rodeo action, expanded agricultural showcases and discount theme nights such as 2-Can Tuesday and Carload Night.
The fair returns to the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center September 5 through 13, less than two months away.
Four nights of rodeo fun
The Southern Rodeo Company (SRC), a 30-year-old family-owned business out of Georgia, will stage the rodeos. SRC is one of the largest operations of its kind in the Southeast and has earned the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA) stock contractor of the year for 2023 and 2024. Visit www.southernrodeocompany.com to learn more.
According to the organization: “Our lifelong passion is to provide each town with the best of the best bucking horses, bulls, world class contestants … and top-of-the-line specialty acts.”
The Cabarrus County rodeo will be held each Friday and Saturday night of the fair (September 5, 6, 12 and 13) starting at 6:30 p.m. Each show lasts between two and two-and-a-half hours and features eight events: bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, barrel racing, team roping, calf roping, breakaway roping and steer wrestling.
General admission for the rodeo is $25; admission is free for children 2 and under. A rodeo ticket includes admission to the fair.
Fair admission deals + more ways to save
Fair admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children ages 6 to 11 and seniors 55-plus. Children 5 and under get in free as well as Cabarrus County employees with a valid badge and military with an ID.
Here’s the approved discount theme nights:
Monday (Sept. 8) Senior Day: Those 55 and older get in free from 3 to 4 p.m. Bingo will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., with a senior talent show at 5 p.m. Montana Sky performs on the main stage from 7 to 9 p.m.
Tuesday (Sept. 9) 2-Can Tuesday: Attendees get $2 off the entry fee when they bring two non-perishable food items. Cooperative Christian Ministry will coordinate volunteers and the collected food stays in Cabarrus County and Kannapolis. Landon Cline performs on the Main Stage at 6 p.m.
Wednesday (Sept. 10) School Night: Cabarrus County students receive free entry. A charity dunking booth will open at 6 p.m. Too Much Sylvia will also take the Main Stage at 6 p.m.
Thursday (Sept. 11) Carload Night: Up to six people allowed per car. A fair admission ticket and a ride wristband is $90 (up to a $270 value). There is still an opportunity to sponsor and get naming rights for this night, and officials ask those interested to call the fair office at 704-920-3992. The charity dunking booth will open at 6 p.m.
New attractions and features
In addition to all the food, rides and games fairgoers love, the 2025 Cabarrus County Fair will offer several new features and attractions.
Advance fair and rodeo tickets and ride wristbands will be available. Also, entries for competitive exhibits are now open. Visit www.cabarruscountyfair.com for more information. Note that competition registration closes at noon on August 20.
The livestock shows will now take place in the arena, with more seating and show space. The fair mercantile will feature local craft vendors and Cabarrus-grown booths.
New entertainment this year includes the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, First Bite Fishing, Hog Diggity Dogs, Landon Cline, Montana Sky, Dangerous Feats of Comedy, Eudora Farms Petting Zoo, Too Much Sylvia, the Cabarrus County Fair Pageant and a fireworks show.
A leader rooted in agriculture
Wyatt is a lifelong Cabarrus resident who graduated from Northwest Cabarrus and N.C. State University. In 2011, she left her career in banking to form a Black Angus cattle operation with her husband. During that same time, she began working as a substitute teacher at Mt. Pleasant Elementary and Middle schools and soon became involved with the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program.
Wyatt soon formed a youth cattle show team that has performed at the fair in recent years. After learning of the opening at the fair, Wyatt says she wanted to leverage her relationship management skills to make this year’s edition special. She joined the County in April.
“I grew up with this fair, and my goal is for the community to feel the same pride and excitement I had every year,” she says.
Wyatt’s team includes Administrative Specialist Stephanie Simpson, whose responsibilities include livestock shows and awards, organization and volunteer coordination. Cathy Harkey has 14 years of experience with the fair and serves as the Gold Hall superintendent, overseeing competitive exhibits. Jimmy Petty, president of the Cabarrus Saddle Club, is the livestock superintendent and oversees activities in the livestock building.
Partnerships still available
The naming rights sponsorship is $50,000, while the presenting rodeo sponsor is $10,000. A gold-level sponsorship is $7,500, Silver Level is $5,000 and Bronze Level is $2,500. Blue-Ribbon Level sponsorships range from $250 to $1,500. Sponsorship on a rodeo chute gate is $1,500, and a corner banner is $2,500.
Current sponsors include James River Equipment, which is providing a tractor and skid loader for the rodeo. McDonald General Store is sponsoring two pallets of shavings for the petting zoo and dairy showmanship buckles. First Bank is sponsoring T-shirts, while rodeo chute gates are sponsored by Ron Smith/Ed Jones and Faulk Brothers Turf Supply. Sheep and goat showmanship buckles are sponsored by Cabarrus County Farm Bureau, and the beef showmanship buckles are sponsored by Rocky River Large Animal Veterinary Clinic.
Stay updated on the Fair by following on Facebook @cabarruscountyfair, Instagram @CabCoFair and visiting www.cabarruscountyfair.com.