Winston-Salem Magazine

Winston-Salem Magazine Winston-Salem Magazine showcases and celebrates the good in the city, from its people to its many offerings. Editor: Cindy Loman
Art Director: Richard Boyd II

Sweeter than sunshine! The Carolina Classic Fair is OPEN (and FREE admission; gates open at 2 p.m.) for the final day! W...
10/11/2026

Sweeter than sunshine! The Carolina Classic Fair is OPEN (and FREE admission; gates open at 2 p.m.) for the final day! When you get to the fairgrounds, stop by the "Bees and Honey" exhibit. No bees, no food!

For 30+ years, the “Bees and Honey” exhibit at the fair has been highlighting how vital bees are to our survival.

“[I]f we don’t have bees, we don’t eat,” says Darrell Hampton, who has been involved in beekeeping for 35 years. “About 60 percent of everything we eat has to be pollinated by bees.”

The “Bees and Honey” exhibit is a collaboration of the Forsyth and Stokes County Beekeepers associations, which have about 200 and 50 members respectively. In the agricultural building near the doors looking out at the fairgrounds, the offerings include honey, beeswax goodies, and more for sale.

Check out the honey displays and other exhibits. Go to Carolina Classic Fair for more details on all the happenings for the final day. Click the link in the comments to read Tim Clodfelter’s article.

(photos by EmilySarah Lineback)

Dine with capybaras? That’s an option!If you’re looking for the ultimate weekend day trip, head to Liberty Acres Animal ...
10/09/2026

Dine with capybaras? That’s an option!

If you’re looking for the ultimate weekend day trip, head to Liberty Acres Animal Haven & Equine Rescue, a stunning 60-acre sanctuary located in Liberty in Alamance County.

Whether you want to hang out with a family of ultra-chill capybaras, see a momma sloth and her baby, or say hello to zebras, kangaroos, and rescue horses, this hidden gem has it all. Founded by animal rescuer Alison Peeler, the sanctuary focuses on rescue, conservation, and hands-on education. Walk the beautiful grounds, check out Wriggle’s Reptile Cabin, or try your hand at gem mining.

Liberty Acres is open to the public on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m). Book a private animal encounter (like dining with capybaras!) ahead of time for an added fee if you want even more unforgettable memories.

(photos courtesy of Liberty Acres Animal Haven & Equine Rescue)

📖 10 Cozy Places to Read This Fall 🍂There's nothing better than relaxing with a good book on a fall day! 🍁📚Here are 10 c...
10/08/2026

📖 10 Cozy Places to Read This Fall 🍂

There's nothing better than relaxing with a good book on a fall day! 🍁📚

Here are 10 cozy places, both indoor and outdoor, to add to your reading destinations:

Lot 63
📍 614 S Main St, Winston-Salem

The Bookhouse
📍 120-A Reynolda Vlg Wy, Winston-Salem

Ardmore Coffee
📍 1316 S Hawthorne Rd, Winston-Salem

Southside Branch Library
📍 3185 Buchanan St, Winston-Salem

Brown Family Conservatory
📍 100 Reynolda Vlg Wy, Winston-Salem

Ava's Cupcakes
📍 1483 River Ridge Dr, Clemmons
➡️ Tip: They have a new puppy friendly patio!

Bookmarks
📍 634 W 4th St #110, Winston-Salem
➡️ Tip: the tunnel that connects to 4th Street has chairs, tables, fun artwork, and is covered!

The Remedy
📍 492 W End Blvd, Winston-Salem

Corpening Plaza
📍 231 W 1st St, Winston-Salem

Chill Nitro
📍 616 W 4th St, Winston-Salem

Let us know in the comments your favorite place to cozy up with a good book! 💬

📷 Photos & post by Suzy Fielders

60 years of Autumn Leaves! What started as a clever idea by Dr. J. Dale Simmons to welcome leaf peepers traveling up Hig...
10/08/2026

60 years of Autumn Leaves!

What started as a clever idea by Dr. J. Dale Simmons to welcome leaf peepers traveling up Highway 52 has grown into an award-winning legacy. Voted #2 Best Fall Festival by USA Today’s 10BEST and named the 2025 N.C. ShowFest Event of the Year, the festival celebrates its 60th this weekend.

When: Oct. 9-11
Where: Historic Downtown Mount Airy
Music, food, arts and crafts, and even a festival-first-ever drone light show on Oct. 9.

Check out Autumn Leaves Festival for all the details. See you in Mayberry!

Click on the link in the comments to read Lynne Brandon's article.

(photos by the Winston-Salem Journal and the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce)

Most carnival goldfish barely make it past the car ride home. Lil’ Wayne is on his 10th fair!Ten fairs ago, October rain...
10/07/2026

Most carnival goldfish barely make it past the car ride home. Lil’ Wayne is on his 10th fair!

Ten fairs ago, October rains left puddles. Right in the middle of one sat a speck of orange: a lost goldfish prize from a ring toss game. “A maintenance worker found him one evening,” says Logistics/Fair Entries Coordinator Rachael Lough. The worker scooped him up, Lough named him, and staff quickly became his personal entourage.

“He’s a fighter,” says Fair Director Cary Hester. “He’s done well.”

Outside his glass kingdom, the crowds roar and rides spin. Inside, Lil’ Wayne rules the front office, politely enduring extra foot traffic and moving pebbles to make his personal Ferris wheel spin.

When asked what he thinks of his miraculous first fair, Lil’ Wayne just gives a flashy flick of his tail. Happy 10th fair, Lil’ Wayne! Keep swimming!

He hopes to see you at the Carolina Classic Fair! (OK, really, he'd rather you leave him be, but he truly does want you to visit...and get your own fish.) :)

The Carolina Classic Fair is in town, and that means yummy food! Lots of it! On a stroll around the fair, Winston-Salem ...
10/06/2026

The Carolina Classic Fair is in town, and that means yummy food! Lots of it! On a stroll around the fair, Winston-Salem Journal | JournalNow Food Editor Michael Hastings and Tim Clodfelter, a radio host for WTOB 980AM & 96.7 FM Radio were excited to see many of their old favorites, as well as new (and sometimes insane) concoctions. In the comments, share your favorite Carolina Classic Fair favorites with us! Also, be sure to check out Michael Hastings' article in the Winston-Salem Journal | JournalNow.

Step back in time!Tucked away inside the excitement of the Carolina Classic Fair is a hidden treasure called Yesterday V...
10/05/2026

Step back in time!

Tucked away inside the excitement of the Carolina Classic Fair is a hidden treasure called Yesterday Village. A cozy escape made up of historic buildings and an array of offerings, it’s a full-sensory celebration of history and craftsmanship.

Here’s what makes it a classic fair destination:

*Living history in action: Watch artisans bring the past to life right before your eyes ... from blacksmiths to bowl turners, tinsmiths to leatherworkers, weavers to potters, candlemakers to silversmiths, glass artists to chainsaw carvers (yep!) and more.

*A feast for the senses: Listen to the plucky melodies of Village Bluegrass; breathe in Christmas trees; see vintage tractors (with one to climb on and “drive”) and antiques on display; and enjoy local goodies.

It’s the perfect blend of past-meets-present where adults can reminisce and children can see how things were made before the digital age.

Don’t just walk through the fair. Step back in time at Yesterday Village! Visit Carolina Classic Fair to learn more. And see the link to our article in the comments.

(photos and post by EmilySarah Lineback)

WHICH NAME? What’s that quote about a rose by any other name is just as sweet?* We knew the local fair has had quite a f...
10/02/2026

WHICH NAME?

What’s that quote about a rose by any other name is just as sweet?*

We knew the local fair has had quite a few incarnations, so we asked Cary Hester, director of the Carolina Classic Fair, and here’s something to think about the next time someone tells you they haven’t been to the fair since it changed names. You can ask, “Which name?” (We know that sounds like we're being smart. But really, it has had a lot of names!) :)

Since the beginning, way back in 1882, the local fair has been called quite a few things; here are some of them:

*Wheat Fair
*Wheat and Cattle Fair
*Winston To***co Fair
*Piedmont To***co Fair
*Winston-Salem Horse Show, Carnival, and County Fair
*Winston-Salem Forsyth County Fair
*Fair of Winston-Salem
*Dixie Classic Fair for Northwest North Carolina
*Carolina Classic Fair

We imagine way back when, others might have felt sad or mad about name changes. (“To***co? What was wrong with Wheat and Cattle?!”) And yes, we know, it’s layered. And it’s also the newest name in a long list of monikers. Read the link in the comments for a brief history on the fair through the years.

* In William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” Act 2, Scene 2), Juliet says, “What’s in a name? that which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet;”

(Winston-Salem Journal | JournalNow photos)

Craving a fun escape? Is going to the fair one of your fall traditions?Nothing beats the vintage magic of the Carolina C...
10/01/2026

Craving a fun escape? Is going to the fair one of your fall traditions?

Nothing beats the vintage magic of the Carolina Classic Fair! As our state's second-largest fair, it’s a living, breathing family reunion packed with decades of history, full-sensory nostalgia, and mind-blowing new attractions. And opening day is tomorrow!

Things to put on your list:

*Wild + classic rides (Are you turnmeupsidedown or ferris-wheel style?)
*Wild shows (Yes, Twiggy, the water-skiing squirrel is back!)
*Legendary fair eats (what’s your favorites? John Deere homemade ice cream? Giant turkey legs? Fried what?!)
*History (from antiques on display to Yesterday Village)
*Agricultural roots (from giant pumpkins to floral displays, from chickens to cattle, it’s all here)
*And lots more!

Whether you go for the adrenaline-pumping rides, the blue-ribbon competitions, or just a heavy dose of nostalgia, there's something for every generation. This year's fair is Oct. 2–Oct. 11. Visit Carolina Classic Fair for all the details. And let us know if you're going and what's on your must-do list!

(photos by Lauren Carroll, Allison Lee Isley, J. Sinclair, Walt Unks, and K. Scott Whitaker)

Wallet WHO?!A new WalletHub study claims Winston-Salem is one of the worst cities (ranked 41st worst) for foodies—and we...
09/29/2026

Wallet WHO?!

A new WalletHub study claims Winston-Salem is one of the worst cities (ranked 41st worst) for foodies—and we completely disagree!

We have so many restaurant favorites. (The city has landed on several highly prestigious national and regional culinary lists in recent years, so it’s not just our opinion!) What about you?!

Share (and tag!) your absolute most adored Winston-Salem restaurants in the comments below (popular or hidden gem). We put a few photos/tags of some of our faves to get us all started. If we included them all, it'd be a long list!

(photos by Allison Lee Isley, David Rolfe, and Walt Unks)

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