When: Thursday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Sept. 28

Times: Monday through Thursday 4 to 11 p.m., Fridays 4 p.m. to midnight
Saturdays 10 a.m. to midnight, and Sundays 12:30 to 7 p.m.

Where: Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road S.W., Marietta, Georgia 30008

Directions: From I-75 take Exit 260 (Windy Hill Road) and go west. Go approximately five miles until Windy Hill Road dead ends, and turn left on Austell Road. Turn right on Callaway Road. Jim R. Miller Park is on the right.

Background: As the largest fair in metro Atlanta, the North Georgia State Fair attracts nearly 300,000 people every year from North Georgia and neighboring states. The North Georgia State Fair features live music, free attractions and shows, farm animals, flower shows, blue ribbon competitions, local square dancers, fair foods, and games and rides at the Great James H. Drew Exposition – one of the largest carnival midways in the United States.

Free Concerts: A covered arena guarantees concerts rain or shine, including appearances by great country and contemporary Christian artists. Headlining the free concert series this year are: The Oak Ridge Boys on Friday, September 19;

Confederate Railroad on Saturday, September 20; Kellie Pickler on Wednesday, September 24; Lonestar on Thursday, September 25; Mark Schultz on Friday, September 26; Lady Antebellum and Josh Gracin on Saturday, September 27. All concerts begin at 8 p.m.

New for 2008: Kachunga and the Alligator Show (www.kachunga.com) features a real American Bushman who wrestles alligators with his bare hands. Kachunga, who is from the deep swamps of Florida, pits his strength and agility against the lashing tail and gnashing jaws of a nine-foot, 300-pound alligator in this crowd-pleasing show.

Another crowd pleaser, Sinbad, “In Search of the Golden Pineapple,”
(www.highdiveshows.com) is a high dive acrobatic/stunt show that is also new for 2008. Sinbad and his band of Gold Seekers dive from nine-foot boards, and 15- and 30-foot platforms, in search of golden trinkets. The show concludes with an amazing dive off of an 80-foot platform to retrieve the Golden Pineapple.

Attractions: Back again this year: Robinson’s Pig Paddling Porkers, Oscar the Robot, Brian Ruth the Chainsaw Master, and Frisco Brothers Petting Zoo and Pony Rides.

Admission: $5 adults, $2 students ages 7-18, free for children 6 and under.

Ride tickets are $1 each, $20 for 22 tickets and $50 for 55 tickets. All rides require more than one ticket. Parking is $3.

Concerts FREE with fair admission.

Unlimited Ride Specials:

$18 Pay-One-Price Ride Specials – includes unlimited rides on the following dates only: 9/18, 9/23 & 9/24.

$15 Pay-One-Price Ride Special on 9/22.

Information: www.northgeorgiastatefair.com

(770) 423-1330 or (770) 528-8989 after September 2