N.C. County Fair Closes Early After Juvenile Fights Overwhelm Police
What to Know
- The Carolina Classic Fair in Winston-Salem closed about 45 minutes early after widespread fights involving multiple groups of unsupervised juveniles overwhelmed police officers.
- Police said about 50 people were ejected as disorder continued throughout the evening, prompting fair officials to shut down the event in the interest of public safety.
- Investigators said many of the juveniles later gathered at a nearby store, where aggressive behavior and vandalism forced another early closure; the incidents remain under investigation.
By Mark Price
Source The Charlotte Observer
One of North Carolina’s oldest county fairs was forced to close early after widespread brawling overwhelmed police officers, according to investigators.
It happened Sunday evening at the Carolina Classic Fair in Winston-Salem, and the fights involved “numerous groups of unsupervised juveniles,” police said in an Oct. 12 news release.
“The issues within the fair began at approximately 6 p.m. and continued throughout the remainder of the night. Officers responded and took appropriate action to restore order and ensure the safety of fairgoers, vendors, and staff,” police said.
“Approximately 50 individuals were ejected from the fair. ... Officers quickly became overwhelmed by the amount of unruly behavior and, in the interest of public safety, fair officials made the decision to close the Carolina Classic Fair at 9:45 p.m.”
Forty-five minutes after the fair closed, a store on University Parkway in Winston-Salem reported it was forced to close early after 20 to 30 teens began “acting aggressively and vandalizing the property.”
“It was determined that the juveniles in this incident left the fairgrounds and responded to this location,” police said.
An investigation into the violence at the fair is underway, and “appropriate criminal charges will be requested,” officials said.
Police did not release details of any arrests or injuries at the fairgrounds.
The Carolina Classic Fair dates to 1882, when it began as the Wheat Fair and later merged with the local Piedmont Tobacco Fair, the Winston-Salem Journal reports. The fair has gone through numerous iterations and name changes in the decades since, the newspaper says.
The 2026 fair started Oct. 1 and ended on Sunday, after attracting 212,000 patrons, Yes! Weekly reports.
“I find it disheartening that the final few hours of the Carolina Classic Fair ended on an unfortunate note. Once again, we are in a situation where juveniles were allowed to roam unsupervised and expose themselves and others to disorder,” Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn, Jr. said in the news release.
“Many of the unsupervised juveniles feel that they can fight, curse, vandalize, and cause mayhem directly in the presence of police officers. ... Strong communities are built when parents, guardians, schools, faith leaders, mentors, and community members all play an active role in guiding young people and reinforcing expectations for respectful behavior.”
Winston-Salem is about an 80-mile drive northeast from uptown Charlotte.
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