by Shawn Nowlin
The Salem Fair is an event unlike any other in the valley. America’s largest free gate fair, now in its 35th year, enjoyed a 12-day run that began June 28th. The number of people who attended each day, unsurprisingly, was in the thousands.
This year’s fair featured dozens of rides, musical performances, carnival games, family-friendly events, and more. The lack of significant rain allowed people to enjoy the festivities largely uninterrupted. Fair officials say they were “elated” with the concessions and ride-generated revenue.
Three years ago, the Salem Police Department responded within seconds to the sound of gunshots during the fair’s opening day. The suspect was quickly taken into custody. Since that day, new security measures and rules were implemented:
- Gate closures at 10 p.m.
- Additional electronic wanding at gate entry, everyone was subjected to clear bag checks and a walk-through detector.
- While on the fairgrounds, individuals younger than 18 had to be accompanied by an adult or guardian with a valid I.D.
According to Salem Police, no major incidents occurred on the fairgrounds this year.
For the first time ever, a sitting Governor visited the Salem Fair. On July 7, Glenn Youngkin visited with vendors, concessionaires and patrons.
“We are grateful for the Governor taking the time to validate our tourism efforts in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. We appreciate the generosity of the fairgoers too. Because of them, we had the third-highest ride gross in the history of this event. They truly outdid themselves this year,” Salem Fair Manager Carey Harveycutter said.
More than 2,500 pairs of socks were donated at the gate for Mrs. Dorsey’s Clothes Closet and the Roanoke Rescue Mission. Additionally, 5,000 pounds of food was collected for the Salem-Roanoke County Food Pantry.
“A portion of all the tickets sold at the Northwest Ace Hardware goes back to a charity of their choice. This is a self-supporting event that generates a profit to the operating budget of the civic center and gives back to the community in a variety of ways,” Harveycutter said.
To ensure everything was ready for opening day, countless individuals worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Until everything was complete, most details were kept quiet. Next year’s Salem Fair is slated for July 3-14.
