Winston Salem Fairgrounds Event Center — Attraction in Winston-Salem

Unfortunately, what used to be a great experience at the Dx* Classic Fair has become the red-headed step-child of both the fair experience and graveyard of hardworking vendors. The Fair Management can fix this, but over the past several years has not seen fit to do so. It's just a place where great vendors, who are increasingly disappearing year after year, can pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to have a tiny minority of fair attendees to wander through and be disappointed. But I'm not just being negative. Here are positive things that can be done IF the fair wishes to survive:

PUSH TRAFFIC TO AND THROUGH THE DOOR. You see in the photos, on a very crowded night at the fair, it's drab looking and there's NOTHING of interest, nor any attractive SIGNS promoting the indoor space as people turn down this walkway. * Put some fun, inviting, bright lights and active attractions leading up to the building instead of a graveyard appearance. Take some of money charged and provide a $1,000 grand prize drawing based on visiting every vendor's booth. Plus give each ticket-holder 1 free ride for each entry they've made (limit 1 per day). That will build up the outside rides, too.*

PROMOTE! PROMOTE! PROMOTE! A barely seen "Marketplace" sign above the door this year, or "Commercial Exhibits" and such in prior years is NOT marketing. It's more of a tombstone inscription. * Give the place/event an exciting NEW NAME and PROMOTE it all over the fairgrounds, just as you do other places. Especially promote it at the intersection leading to the front door.*

ENFORCE YOUR "BE THERE" CONTRACTS. These pictures were taken in the 8PM hour on Thursday night with high fair attendance, mostly clear skies and 72 temperature. You can see more than half of the booths were not even manned, including Winston-Salem's own City booth! Who wants to go into a deserted ghost-town?? And who wants to be the only display when all around them are deserted booths and empty floor space?? It was terrible to see as the few people that came into the building walked in a few booths deep, wandered around a bit and walked out. Most never even got to the end of the first aisle of booths. Do you blame them? * Every vendor - every booth - is contracted to have booths manned and functional during ALL hours of operation or be fined and not allowed back. It's obvious that these rules aren't enforced because we see the same booths empty every year. Sure, there are emergencies, but if a booth near the front is empty for more than a few hours, move it to the back of the graveyard and put a vendor that's worked to keep people on site in the better place. Attendees shouldn't have to walk 4 whole aisles to visit half an aisle of vendors when the others left.*

SHOW AND TELL THE ATTRACTIONS. There was a fun race car simulator, drag race competition, and remote control race cars in the building that were FREE! But they were deserted 85% of the time. There were no signs telling about it, nobody directing people there, no announcements in the building. Who knew? What good is a fun free attraction without clear promotional signs and announcements? * Keep having fun and free features, especially interactive ones for all ages, but let everyone know about them and how to get to them.*

It was nice to see a few Facebook posts, but that's not the onsite marketing that needs to be made.

That's a great plan. It could have cost you thousands of dollars, but I've offered it free. Let's see if they're smart enough to do it. Or if the vendors will disappear completely within the...

Went to the fairgrounds for a scheduled Covid19 vaccination. My first impression was in the parking lot and the cones directing you plus lots of signs. As I'm hobbling up walking with my cane I'm greeted at the sidewalk by a young man who asks if I'd like a wheelchair. It wasn't necessary but a pleasant gesture. From that point on each and every individual who gave me directions/information/took my temperature/ checked me in was very professional and made me feel comfortable. Once seated for my vaccination shot the nurse was very professional. I was just so impressed with the level of coordination happening. Everything went so smoothly and easily I was in and out in 28 minutes. To get one shot with an appointment at my family doctor I've had for years would take 4 hours minimum. The entire staff deserves a huge parking lot party once this...

I will never go back since they just changed the name of the Dixie Classic Fair. They said the word Dixie was offensive and was racist. Give me a break! I guess they'd better ban Dixie Cups too. It wasn't hurting anybody, and 4 people who were "offended" ruined everything for hundreds of thousands of people. I will NEVER go back to the fair, and neither will my friends or family. I hope you're happy, you've just ostracized half of your customers who have been going to the "Dixie" classic...