Are you geared up for the 47th annual Ayden Collard Festival? This year’s festival officially starts on Friday, Sept. 10, at 5 p.m., and the gates open at 9 a.m. the following day. The organizers have packed the festival to the brim, with a parade, rides, vendors, live music, and contests. To say it’s going to be a blast would be an understatement. Let’s dive into the schedule so you won’t miss a thing.
Rides, Vendors, and Live Music on Friday
The Ayden Collard Festival is going to kick things off with a bang on Friday. It announced that Friday is $20 wristband night, which is a fantastic deal. Once you have your wristband on, you can ride as much as you want without shelling out any more money. The festival will have countless thrilling carnival rides, along with some tame options if you need to slow your adrenaline down for a bit.
While your children will probably spend most of their time on the rides, they can also enjoy some kids’ activities. These start at 6:30, and they’re always popular.
And be sure to stick around for the Fantasy Band at 8 p.m. If you’ve gone to festivals in the past, you’ve probably seen the band live. They have quite a following in Ayden and always put on an outstanding performance.
Participate in Contests on Saturday
If you love to compete, the Ayden Collard Festival has you covered. The horseshoe tournament is free to enter and will be at 10 a.m. at Veterans Park. Don’t worry if you don’t place first since there’s another contest at 2 p.m. This time, you’ll down as many collard greens as you can. You might want to skip the food vendors before this competition.
Gear for an Exciting Day for the Kids on Saturday
The kids might not want to toss horseshoes or eat collard greens, but they’ll love going back to the rides when they open at 11 a.m. Keep your watch handy, though, because the kids will want to head to the stage at noon to see Purples the Clown. They might walk away with some balloon art.
Check Out the Parade on Saturday
The ACF Parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday. With more than 100 entries, this is one of the biggest parades in North Carolina. It’s also one of the most thrilling, with classic cars, floats, live animals, and marching bands.
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Listen to Live Tunes on Saturday
You can also spend Saturday jamming to live music. Leave99 will kick things off at 6 p.m., followed by Shimmy Shakers at 7 p.m. and The Embers at 8 p.m. You’ll get to listen to all kinds of styles of music while hanging out at the festival.
You can also shop for crafts, eat food, and more. With so much to do, this is a must-attend festival. Clear your schedule so you can head over.