Taking place across 50 acres from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., this long-standing autumn tradition bridges rural heritage and urban community life with a full day of hands-on agricultural education, live entertainment, local vendors, and family activities.
2026 Farm City Day
(Updated: Sept. 23, 2026, 1:07 p.m.)
N.C. Cooperative Extension, Henderson County Center, along with Premiere Presenting Sponsor Harry’s on the Hill GMC, and community partners, invite residents and regional visitors to Jackson Park on Saturday, October 3, 2026, for the annual Farm City Day.
Event Highlights & Schedule
| Time | Event |
Info |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00am | Stick-Horse Race |
Grab a wooden steed, saddle up, and gallop your way to the finish line in this high-energy race! Age categories: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, & 13+ |
FFA Booth, near the Fishing Pond |
| 10:00am | Music by Elizabeth McCorvey | Elizabeth is an Americana, roots, and bluegrass singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Playing the fiddle, banjo, and cello, she weaves traditional soundscapes into her original music. | Main Stage |
| 10:30am | Potato Sack Race |
Hop into a burlap sack, hold on tight, and bounce your way to victory in this classic farm-favorite race! Age categories: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, & 13+ |
FFA Booth, near the Fishing Pond |
| 11:00am |
Oversized Overalls Obstacle Run |
Step into oversized overalls, stomp into giant boots, and shuffle as fast as you can to the finish line! Age categories: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, & 13+ |
FFA Booth, near the Fishing Pond |
| 11:30am | Hay Bale Toss |
Grab a bale, channel your inner farm strength, and throw it as far as you can for ultimate bragging rights! Age categories: 9-12, & 13+ |
FFA Booth, near the Fishing Pond |
| Noon | Awards Ceremony | Join us at the Main Stage to watch the Farmer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year be awarded. This will be followed by a corn shucking contest with local diplomats participating. | Main Stage |
| 12:15pm | Music by Izzi Hughes and Andrew Thelston | Local favorites Thelston and Hughes deliver an electrifying performance packed with soaring vocals, rich harmonies, and masterful guitar work. Spanning decades of crowd-pleasing covers, from Fleetwood Mac to Lady Gaga, plus standout originals, this dynamic duo brings high-energy rock and soulful presence to every stage. | Main Stage |
| 2:00pm | Stick-Horse Race |
Grab a wooden steed, saddle up, and gallop your way to the finish line in this high-energy race! Age categories: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, & 13+ |
FFA Booth, near the Fishing Pond |
| 2:00pm | Music by Finkelstein Three |
Finkelstein 3 (F3) is a progressive bluegrass, jazzgrass, and jamgrass trio based near Cleveland County, North Carolina, the historic birthplace of Earl Scruggs. |
Main Stage |
| 2:30pm | Potato Sack Race |
Hop into a burlap sack, hold on tight, and bounce your way to victory in this classic farm-favorite race! Age categories: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, & 13+ |
FFA Booth, near the Fishing Pond |
| 3:00pm |
Oversized Overalls Obstacle Run |
Step into oversized overalls, stomp into giant boots, and shuffle as fast as you can to the finish line! Age categories: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, & 13+ |
FFA Booth, near the Fishing Pond |
| 3:30pm | Hay Bale Toss |
Grab a bale, channel your inner farm strength, and throw it as far as you can for ultimate bragging rights! Age categories: 9-12, & 13+ |
FFA Booth, near the Fishing Pond |
Things to Do
| Future Farmers of America (West and North Hendersonville High Schools) | Fishing, Potato Sack Races, Stick-Horse Races, Hay Bale Toss, and the Oversized Overalls Obstacle Run. |
| Barnyard Bandits 4-H Club Petting Zoo | Come out and meet the animals raised by our 4-H youth for their project showcase. Kids can enjoy pony rides. |
| Henderson County 4-H Youth Development | Tin-punching, Barnyard Bowling, 2-Liter Rockets, Butter Making, and more. |
| Tractor Rides | Meet in front of Shelter 1 for a wagon ride around Jackson Park. |
| Kids Rides | Meet in front of Shelter 1 for a fun caterpillar-style ride for kids. |
| Creative Beginnings Preschool | Tractor Craft and Agricultural Activity |
| Cooperative Extension Food Education (EFNEP) | Participate in cooking demonstrations and try healthy, inexpensive recipes. |
Things to Learn
| Safety Fair | Touch a truck, meet local heroes, and earn a badge! Families can explore fire engines and rescue vehicles up close while kids take on the Safety Fair challenge, learning home fire safety, how to dial 911, and essential lifesaving skills along the way. |
| Henderson County Beekeepers | View a live demonstration hive and learn the importance of honeybees. |
| Bullington Gardens | Learn about the unique varieties of dahlias, home gardening, and pollinator plants at Bullington Gardens. |
| Tri-Hishtil | View a hands-on demonstration about grafting plants. |
| Wingate School of Pharmacy | Family-friendly health and safety information about sun protection, hydration, medication, and poison control. |
| Mills River Partnership | Information about keeping waterways clear in the Mills River Valley. |
| Extension Master Gardener Volunteers | Home garden education for growers of all abilities. Check out the live chickens and colorful eggs. |
| Be SMART for Kids | Free gun locks and education about the importance of safe gun storage. |
| Henderson County Farm Bureau | Learn the importance of maintaining local farms. |
| NC Office of State Archaeology | View artifacts found on local farmland and learn how to have them properly identified. |
| Smart Start Partnership for Children | Resources and educational materials for young learners. |
| Support Our Swimmers (S.O.S) | Learn the importance of having a local aquatic center for all. |
Things to Eat
| Aw Shucks Gourmet Popcorn | Pre-packaged popcorn in a variety of flavors. |
| Baabals Ice Cream | Hand-dipped Ice Cream |
| Freeze Dried Delights by Klaus | Freeze-dried candy |
| Pelicans Snoballs | Snowballs, toppings, and drinks. |
| Los 3 Jalapenos | Authentic tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and more. |
| Southern Hawg BBQ | BBQ Sandwiches, Hamburgers, French Fries, Chicken Strips, and more! |
| Wagyu Wagon | Wagyu beef burgers, fries, etc. |
| Kole Kole Ice | Snow cones, Funnel cake, Fried Oreos, and more. |
| Cheap Chips Inc | Coffee, hot chocolate, snacks, and more |
Things to Take Home
| Blue Ridge Community College - Plant Sale | Fall mums, asters, pansies, native perennials, and more. |
| Hendersonville Tree Board | FREE trees and shrubs |
| Nekita Coates Barn Quilt Designs | Wooden, hand-painted barn quilts for sale. |
| Sophie's Crafts | Crocheted stuffed animals, reusable bags, scrunchies, and more. |
| Bird Houses by William Hoeft | Hand-made wooden bird houses |
| Echo Hill Flower Farm | Flowers, bouquets, and flower jewelry |
| Bright Little Pages | Children's books with seasonal stories about farms, orchards, recipes, and family time. |
| Transylvania Storytellers | Books for kids of all ages from local authors. |
| Up All Night Bottling Company | Farm-to-table hot sauces and seasonings |
| 6ix Daughters Design | 3-D Printed items, including toys and household items. |
Things to See
| Harry's on the Hill GMC | Check out the latest fleet! Explore brand-new trucks and state-of-the-art heavy equipment up close. |
| Giant Pumpkin Patch | Marvel at massive, hand-grown giant pumpkins raised with care by our talented local 4-H youth! |
| Bovine Creations by Moolisia | Admire unique metal cow sculptures crafted entirely from recycled propane tanks, old farm tools, and salvaged scrap metal! See how local artisans turn industrial junk into folk art. |
| Kirby Johnson Tractor Museum | Take a step back in time with our classic antique tractor display! Explore beautifully restored vintage farm machines and see the iron powerhouses that shaped agricultural history. |
| Knotty Spirits Woodcarving | Watch wood transform in real time during an incredible live chainsaw carving demonstration! |
| Henderson County Public Library | See the great new addition to the Henderson County Public Library fleet- the Mobile Library. Go inside and check out books, movies, audiobooks, and more. |
| North River Farms | Step aboard a real working combine harvester! Kids can explore this massive farm machine up close and discover how local farmers harvest crops. |
| WNC Aerial Applications | Catch a live agricultural drone demonstration! Learn how farmers use smart technology to monitor fields and precisely spray large-scale crops in minutes. |
Thank you to our sponsors!
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