Ribbon cutting highlights Franklin-Southampton County Fairgrounds’ new food court building
Published 3:01 pm Saturday, May 31, 2025
- (Photo by Titus Mohler)
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The Franklin-Southampton County Fair Board hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday morning, May 31, to highlight the fairgrounds’ new food court building that was built by Anthony Drake Builders LLC in the wake of the summer 2024 storm that ravaged the grounds.
On Aug. 4, 2024, what the National Weather Service (NWS) reported preliminarily as a “thunderstorm wind event” left a wake of destruction in its path at the Franklin-Southampton County Fairgrounds. Fair officials and the NWS confirmed that no one was injured during the event, but it left some outbuildings and the food court area at the fairgrounds in ruins, also ripping open the back of the largest building on the property.
The Franklin-Southampton County Fair, which was set to start three days later, was canceled.
Since then, support from the community has poured in to help with the fairgrounds’ recovery, putting them in position to host the fair once again this August.
Presenting the new food court building at the Franklin-Southampton County Fairgrounds are, from left, Daniel Johnson, Glenn Joyner and Anthony Martinette. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Anthony Martinette, of Anthony Drake Builders, noted that construction of the food court building was a five-month process, running from December 2024 to May 2025.
Franklin-Southampton County Fair Board President Glenn Joyner praised the new building, affirming that it is a significant upgrade from the previous structure, with improvements that include air conditioning.
The ribbon cutting on Saturday immediately preceded the Fair Jam! event, sponsored by the fair board, that is designed to raise funds for further improvements to the fairgrounds.
The gates opened at the fairgrounds, 25374 New Market Road in Courtland, at 11 a.m. for the Fair Jam!, and seven prominent musical acts in the area have begun performing as of this writing, with the event set to run from noon-10 p.m.
In performing order, those acts include C.A. Sayre, Sounds of Time, Silver Street, Backstage Jammin, 58 East, Band-It and Chase Payne.
Food and beverages are on sale at the event.
Admission to Fair Jam! will be granted with a per-person donation, including a reduced rate for children ages 12 and younger.
