Fair Jam! paves way to fairgrounds upgrades
Published 7:00 am Thursday, June 12, 2025
- The crowd grows at the Fair Jam! as the afternoon advances Saturday, May 31, with the attendees pictured taking in the Sounds of Time. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
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(A gallery of photos follows the story below. Photos by Titus Mohler)
The fundraising concert event known as the Fair Jam! that was designed to raise money for future improvements to the Franklin-Southampton County Fairgrounds drew hundreds of people to the grounds on Saturday, May 31.
The Franklin-Southampton County Fair Board of Directors sponsored Fair Jam!, and Board Vice President Cecil Edwards co-chaired the event with Barbette Porter.
“Overall, the Fair Jam! went really well,” Edwards said. “I was glad to see people come out to support the event. It was a great day. We were a little worried about the weather, but the weather held off. All the musicians did a great job performing, and everybody that helped make this event possible worked really hard to make it something that the community could support.”
Musical performers at the Fair Jam! included C.A. Sayre, Sounds of Time, Silver Street, Backstage Jammin, 58 East, Band-It and Chase Payne.
“We had people dancing, we had people clapping, we had people stomping their feet along, so it was a good time,” Edwards said.
He confirmed that the Fair Jam! crowd, which was growing in the early afternoon, continued to grow into the evening.
“I’d estimate several hundred people were there,” he said.
Food and beverages were also for sale at the event.
“I think the people that came out (to the event) actually had a really, really good time, and I’ve had several people reach out to me and tell me, ‘Thank you for doing the event,’” Edwards said.
In terms of the fundraising element of the event, he said, “I feel like we made a good amount of money, and we’re thankful for everybody that came out and supported it. It will help us with our endeavors at the fairgrounds as we continue to make improvements and try to give back to the community, because that’s what it’s all about. All of us on the board, we are volunteers, we’re not paid. We do the fair because we believe in the fair and we believe in giving back to the community, and that’s what we try to do.”
He said the fair board is “really looking forward to the fair this year. We’re excited because we couldn’t have it last year (due to the wind storm damage), but this year we’re going to be able to go forward.”
The fair is set for Aug. 6-9. For more information, visit the Franklin-Southampton County Fair’s Facebook page.
Kathleen Branch and 3-year-old Harper Branch show their excitement as they enter the fairgrounds for the Fair Jam!
Barbara Sayre gathers with 4-year-old Amelia Syre for a photo shortly before C.A. Sayre began performing at the Fair Jam!
Gail Caul and Donnie Caul have their spot staked out early at the Fair Jam!
Three-year-old Levi Graham and Jennifer Graham explore the fairgrounds as organizers prepare to get the Fair Jam! underway.
Fran Bean and George Fowler smile for a picture in the foreground as they await the start of the Fair Jam! on the Hoffman Beverage Main Stage in the background.
Pausing for a photo at the Fair Jam! are, in front, 6-month-old Bradley Gay and, standing from left, Lisa Whitfield, Brianna Gay and Brian Gay.
Anticipating the next musical performer at the Fair Jam! on Saturday, May 31, are Cathy Felts, left, and Debra Foxwell.
Junie Briggs and Mike Finney traveled from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, to attend the Fair Jam!
Franklin-Southampton County Fair Board of Directors Vice President Cecil Edwards addresses those attending the Fair Jam! He co-chaired the event with Barbette Porter.
Southampton County and Franklin-Southampton County Fair leaders joined for a photo near the start of the Fair Jam! Pictured are, from left, Brian S. Thrower, Glenn Joyner, Janet Joyner, Chloe Bunn, Daniel “Bull” Johnson, Tina Bradshaw, Lynette C. Lowe and Anthony Martinette.
Franklin-Southampton County Fair Board of Directors members and Fair Jam! volunteers gather for a photo Saturday morning, May 31, in front of the fairgrounds’ new food court building just prior to the start of the outdoor concert fundraiser.
