About McDowell County Fair

The McDowell County Fair in Marion celebrates a Blue Ridge Mountain county on the upper Catawba River where apple orchards, Christmas tree farms, and the dramatic geology of the Blue Ridge Escarpment define the landscape — the county's Lake James and the ridgeline views from the Blue Ridge Parkway make McDowell one of North Carolina's most scenic mountain counties.

What to Expect

Expect livestock shows, 4-H and FFA competitions, apple and orchard exhibits, Christmas tree displays, local food vendors, and a mountain community fair celebrating the agricultural heritage of the Catawba headwaters region.

Visitor Tips

Marion is the county seat at the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge. Lake James State Park offers swimming and paddling, and the Blue Ridge Parkway's Linville Falls and Linville Gorge sections are major scenic attractions. The historic Clinchfield Railroad corridor through the mountains is an engineering marvel.

Places to Stay Nearby

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