I love broadcasting football

The high school football season has started. Friday, Aug. 18, will be the opening night for most teams.

Radio Free Cabarrus/485 Sports is broadcasting from three sites on the NFHS Network Here are the games and the announcers:

West Cabarrus at Northwest Cabarrus (RFC cameras and Pixellot)

James Melick and Mark Plemmons on the call

Piedmont at Concord

John Voncannon and Chris Hudson are the announcers.

Hickory Ridge at Jay M. Robinson

Perry Gabriel on the call.

Our featured game

Running at Frank Liske

Here is updated race information for Frank Liske Park for Spring of 2020.

Saturday April 4 – Mission Possible 5k

https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Concord/MissionPossible5KandFunRun

Saturday April 25 – 5k for Venezuela

https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Concord/5KforVenezuela

Saturday May 2 – Cabarrus County Puzzle Run

http://support.autismsociety-nc.org/site/TR?fr_id=1302&pg=entry

Saturday May 9 – Exercise is Medicine 5k

https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Concord/ExerciseIsMedicine5kandFunRun

Saturday May 16 – PAWSome 5k

https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Concord/Paws4PeopleDog5K

Saturday June 6 – Find your Fit 5k

https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Concord/FindYourFit5K

Saturday June 13 – Dawns Hope 5k

https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Concord/DawnsHopeRunWalk5K

Renaissance Festival is Back!


Two months of fun and games more boisterous than ever!

Located on the Cabarrus-Mecklenburg County line off Poplar Tent Road and NC 73 is a village where imagination, fantasy, and history burst to life.  It is a place where adults can feel and act like children while children are treated as royalty.  It is a magical realm where you will forget about your daily cares.  It is the Carolina Renaissance Festival and Artisan Marketplace -operating 8 consecutive Saturdays and Sundays, October 5 through November 24.

Fairhaven Village

It is the 16th century and The Renaissance Festival’s story-book village is Fairhaven; a peaceful shire filled with charming cottages, castles, kitchens and pubs, all nestled amongst 245 acres of beautiful fall forest.  It is within the village walls of Fairhaven where pleasure and celebration rule the day as villagers, artists, craftspeople, musicians, performance troupes and food vendors have all gathered together to create a marketplace festival in celebration of the arrival of their visiting Queen.  

Immersive Theatre

With trumpets blaring and cannon blasting, The Lord Mayor orders the gates of Fairhaven to swing open at 10:00 am and close at dusk.  The day is filled with an abundance of attractions appropriate for all age groups, presented upon 14 stages, each packed with a unique mix of continuous music, dance, comedy shows, and circus entertainments.  From barely balanced acrobats to one-of-a-kind old-world musical instruments, the entertainment options are endless.  The stage shows are always spontaneous, and you can take part in the action if you wish – or sit back and enjoy watching the audience volunteers who make a spectacle of themselves.  You will never know what happens next, on stage or off.

The entertainment also takes place right in front of you within the village streets as a costumed cast of medieval commoners, knights, and royalty celebrate a 16th century day of play.  Part of the Renaissance Festival experience is meeting and interacting with the colorful characters roaming the village, creating an interactive street theater.  Musical fairies and lively woodland sprites embody childlike innocence.  Close up magicians amaze and amuse.  Wonderful statuary comes to life.  There is even a walking tree! You can take audience with the Queen or mingle with peasants who endlessly proclaim… “Hip Hip Huzzah!”  – all part and parcel of the Festival day.  

Fairies, knights, mermaids – you never know what you might see at the festival.

One of a kind Attractions

In addition to the non-stop schedule of entertainment, you cannot miss the birds of prey exhibition where the royal falconer will don his hunting garb and take you on a thrilling trip into the past explaining and demonstrating the use of falcons, hawks, owls and more in the ancient sport of falconry!  Listen to fascinating bits of history delivered while a hawk flies overhead in a simulated hunt displaying the unique skills that enraptured nobles long ago and made falconry the sport of kings.  It is both educational and awe inspiring as you learn about the popularity of falconry in the renaissance while watching a falcon dive at over 100 miles an hour!

The Renaissance Festival wouldn’t be complete without a depiction of one of the grandest events of the time period – the popular tournament Joust!  Occurring three times daily, each joust is full of pomp, pageantry, action, comedy and chivalry as noble Knights strap on heavy suits of armor and mount two tons of snorting steeds.  With plumes waving and chain mail clanking, they take up their lances and charge at one another in tilt.  Shattering lances, clashing swords, and daring deeds of bravery all collide into a realistic recreation of a joust to the death!  All for the Queen’s amusement!  

From gallant knights to the marvels of the vast ocean, the Lord Mayor outdoes himself once again in a bid for the Queen’s favor with a personal gift – the return of the Living Mermaids – Fairies of the Sea!  These beautiful sirens frolic about in a 3,000-gallon aquarium!  Children love watching the underwater flips, blown bubble hearts and splashing tails.  And families can sit together atop the mermaid throne for a meet and greet photo experience.

NEW entertainment for the family this year includes Lady Alice of Wonderland and Lady Wendy of Neverland – visiting Fairhaven to share amazing tales of science and adventure!  And kids will love watching Pirouette the Magical Dancer as she ventures out of her Musical Magic Box to dance and delight!  And if you are lucky, she might just reach right into the sky and gift you a magical star of your very own!

Action & Adventure

The Carolina Renaissance Festival is home to a most unusual collection of people powered rides and games of skill.  Inspired by the joust?  Try your skill with a lance on the Slider Joust challenge game.  You can storm the castle in a paintball battle or try to solve the riddle of climbing Jacob’s Ladder.  Mix skillful pleasure and comic adventure by throwing tomatoes at the insulting fools locked in the stocks at Vegetable Justice.  Test your skill at games like the Dragon Climbing Tower, the Archery Range, and the Maze.  Fly high into the sky on the Pirate’s Assault Catapult.  Take a ride on Christopher Columbus’ Voyage to the New World, the Piccolo Pony (a rocking horse bigger than an elephant), and Leonardo’s Flying Machine; a people powered amusement ride based on Di Vinci’s designs for human flight.  A family favorite is Mother (and Father) Goose brought to life with their costumed ducks and geese, the Petting Farm, and Camel rides.

The jousting is always one of the most popular shows at the festival.

Shopping

Early holiday shoppers can peruse over 140 craft shops in an open-air village market which provides a diverse selection of handmade items such as pottery, jewelry, perfume, glass blown ornaments, ceramics, bath & body products, medieval costumes, hand carved candles, unique musical instruments, children’s toys, a full spectrum of clothing, and much more.  Watch artisans make a masterpiece right before your eyes.  Enjoy demonstrations of fine skills such as weaving, woodcarving, blacksmithing, glassblowing, pottery, and jewelry making – all through the use of ancient skills and low technology.  Be your own artisan!  Learn to blacksmith and create your own souvenir at the all NEW Dragon Forge!

Feasting

Did you work up an appetite perusing all the shops and enjoying all the entertainment?  Well you will be pleased to know that the food is as spectacular as all the attractions.  Village kitchens cook up an endless feast of bread bowl stews, steak-on-a-stake, gourmet sausages, and the festival’s famous giant roasted turkey legs.  Gluten free and vegetarian options are also available.  For dessert, try the fresh crepes, the cakes and cookies from the Monks Bakery, candy delights from the Chocolate Shoppe, Italian ice, gelato, and a favorite of all renaissance wanderers: a bag of cinnamon-roasted almonds.  Festival pubs offer a wide variety of craft beer, wine, champagne, ale, honey mead, soft drinks, Medieval Margaritas and all NEW Friar Puck’s Premium Lemonade!

The Carolina Renaissance Festival is the fall destination for quality entertainment in the Carolinas.  So bust out your sense of good cheer, leave your cares behind, and spend a day at the wildly popular and entertaining time machine known as the Carolina Renaissance Festival and Artisan Market Place!

WHEN YOU GO:

What: The 26th annual Carolina Renaissance Festival.

Where: North of Charlotte between Concord and Huntersville. The Festival is located on Highway 73 at Poplar Tent Road (between I-77 and I-85).

When: Eight consecutive weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from October 5th through November 24th.  The Festival runs from 10:00 AM until 5:30 PM, rain or shine.

Advance Discount Tickets: $25 for adults, $15 for kids ages 5-12; available at Harris Teeter Stores region wide or print your own online at RenFestInfo.com. Children under 5 are always free. Tickets purchased at the gate are $1 more. Senior (60 and over) and adult Military discount tickets are $23 at the gate. Parking is free courtesy of Harris Teeter.

Event Sponsors: The Carolina Renaissance Festival is presented by Harris Teeter and Pepsi. Additional sponsors include Nestle ReadyRefresh, Atrium Health, Sunbelt Rentals, Valpak, Jersey Mike’s, Chick-Fil-A, Autobell Carwash, Papa Johns, AAA of the Carolinas, Visit Lake Norman, Hampton Inn & Suites, Fluent Language Solutions, Charlotte Playsets, and Apex Technology.

Information: Online at RenFestInfo.com, or call (704) 896-5555.

This information and high resolution Renaissance Festival photos are available online by clicking “PRESS & MEDIA” at: Carolina.RenFestInfo.com  

The Cabarrus County Fair

GATES OPEN IN 7 DAYS!

Check out the Fair Extraordinary 2019 Gate Specials below

General Gate Admission

Ages 5 and under: FREE

Ages 6-11: $5

Ages 12 and over: $8

With Military ID: $5

Ages 55 and better: $5 *Rates listed include sales tax.

Hours

Monday-Thursday: 4pm -10pm

Fridays: 4pm -11pm

Saturdays: 1pm -11pm

Sunday: 1pm -10pm

Buildings Close 1 Hour Prior to Midway Parking is FREE!

Rides

Pricing & Tickets: Ride Wristbands are for sale every day during the Fair for $25 and allows you unlimited mechanical ride access for one day at the Fair. The Air Raid is not included and requires 3 extra tickets with the wristband. Shared or broken wristbands will not be honored on any ride. During the Fair One Strip of 4 ride tickets can be purchased for $5.00 and a Sheet (22 tickets) for $20.00. Rides take 3-6 tickets each.

Young Children: If your child is under 36 inches tall they can ride the Merry Go Round, Fun Slide, and Kiddie Wheel for free with a paying adult (16 years of age or older). Parents with children under 48 inches should pay special attention to height requirements listed at the ticket booth before purchasing wristbands. Ride tickets are purchased inside the fair grounds at one of the Powers Midways ticket booths. 

Plan ahead, all transactions at the Fair are cash only!

ATM’s are located on the grounds for your convenience but carry a surcharge. No Refunds. No Re-Entry.

2019 GATE SPECIALS

Saturday, September 7

FREE General Gate Admission For All

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ONLY

Sunday, September 8

CCM Canned Food Drive

FREE General Gate Admission For All with the donation of

4 canned food items for adults and 2 for children. 

 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM ONLY

Monday, September 9

Discount Night

$5.00 General Gate Admission ages 12 and over ($3.00 Savings),

$3.00 General Gate Admission ages 6-11 ($2.00 Savings),

 $20.00 Ride Wristbands ($5.00 Savings)

Tuesday, September 10

Family Night

$4.00 General Gate Admission for ALL

Thursday, September 12

Salute to Seniors Night

FREE General Gate Admission for Seniors 55 years and better

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ONLY

Looking for another way to save?

Catch the game and get into the Fair for FREE on Fridays!

Bring your High School football ticket stub after the game on

Friday, September 6th and Friday, September 13th ONLY

and get into the Fair for FREE.

Rides are NOT included in the above special promotions.

Daily Grounds Attractions: 

Ninja Experience

Robinson’s Racing Pigs

Mountain Mike Chainsaw Artist

Petting Zoo – Open During Building Hours

Rust and Flame Blacksmithing – Open During Building Hours

Sandscapes – Live Sculpting

Butterfly Encounter – Open Until Sunset

Live Music on the Country 103.7 Outside Stage Nightly

FFA Milking Booth Experience – Open During Building Hours

Got To Be NC Agriculture Kids Club Activities – Open During Building Hours

Southern Piedmont Wood Turners – Live Carving During Building Hours

Daily Livestock Shows… and SO MUCH MORE! 

http://wwww.cabarruscountyfair.com

Southern Women’s Show

The Southern Women’s Show is set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 23-25 at the Charlotte Convention Center. It’s a lot of fun and here are some of the important details.

The Food Lion Stage is filled with live demonstrations and ideas for cooking great healthy recipes.

Admission

Adults:$12.00 At the Door
Advance Tickets Online: $10.00
Groups 
(10 or More; Advance Only):$8.00 Click Here for form.

Youth$6.00 (ages 6-12)
Children Under 6 Free With Paying Adult.
Ticket prices include 7.25% sales tax.

$4 After 4pm: 
Friday and Saturday on Tickets Purchased at the Door.

Celebrating Women in Education- free admission with Valid ID at the Box Office for teachers and staff for the entire show! 

Military/Police/Fire/Rescue: FREE admission all weekend with ID at the Box Office. Thank You for your service!

Bring a School Supply for Classroom Central and receive $3 Off Admission at the Door! Discount cannot be combined with other coupons or discounts. Click Here for a list of supplies needed and details.

Wheelchairs:
Standard size push wheelchairs are available on a first-come basis at the Show Office located in Room #105. Rental is $5. You will also be asked to provide a driver’s license, which we will hold until the wheelchair is returned. Wheelchairs may not be reserved. Oversized and motorized wheelchairs are not available.

Hourly stage shows will provide lots of entertainment and information.

Hours

Friday: 10am-7pm
Saturday: 10am-7pm
Sunday: 10am-5pm

Football under the lights

Radio Free Cabarrus is broadcasting two games Friday, Sept. 21, on NFHS Network:

Mount Pleasant at Jay M. Robinson

Jesse Carson at Central Cabarrus

The free replay of the broadcasts are available 72 hours after completion of the game.

Last week’s broadcast

The free replay of last week’s broadcast of Mount Pleasant’s win over East Rowan is now available.

East Rowan at Mt Pleasant

athletes library
Use the code RFC for a 10 percent discount.

Coming soon

The Carolina Renaissance Festival begins Sept. 29. Get all the details here.

South Iredell vs Cox Mill

Photographer Todd Mauldin captured this photo of happy Cox Mill fans during the Chargers win over South Iredell.

Hurricane football

Radio Free Cabarrus will broadcast one game tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 12. The plan had been to broadcast three games, but Anson at Jay M. Robinson was postponed. Another game, North Stanly at Northwest Cabarrus is still a go, but our broadcast location is outside and with a 40 to 50 percent chance of thundershowers at game time I made the decision to cancel our broadcast.

RFC will be broadcasting East Rowan at Mount Pleasant on the NFHS Network. Pregame is 6:15 with kickoff at 6:30.

Free replays of Sept. 7 games

Northwest Cabarrus over Hickory Ridge

Cox Mill over South Iredell

Mount Pleasant over Concord

Note: A technical issue caused the Tigers and Spiders broadcast to drop out and be incomplete.

Cabarrus County Fair Week

The Cabarrus County Fair is scheduled to continue through Saturday, Sept. 15. Check the fair website for all the details.

Carolina Renaissance Festival coming

The Carolina Renaissance Festival begins the weekend of Sept. 29 and runs Saturday and Sundays through Nov. 18.

 

Fun week of football and fair

Radio Free Cabarrus will broadcast three more games this week, Sept. 7, on NFHSnetwork.com:

Concord at Mt. Pleasant

Northwest Cabarrus at Hickory Ridge

South Iredell at Cox Mill

Replays of Aug. 31 games

Here are replays of the game RFC broadcast on Aug. 31

Central Cabarrus 42 Mt. Pleasant 0

Hough 33 Concord 0

Hickory Ridge 55 Jay M. Robinson 12

Cabarrus County Fair starts Friday, Sept. 7

Cabarrus County Fair Facts

Dates: September 7-15, 2018

Location: Cabarrus Arena and Events Center (4751 NC-49, Concord)

2018 Fair hours: Weekdays from 4-11 p.m.; Saturdays from 1-11 p.m.; and Sunday from 1-10 p.m.

2018 Fair Theme: Fair-a-dise (logo available upon request)

Fair website: www.cabarruscountyfair.com

Fair Facebook: www.facebook.com/cabarruscountyfair

Fair Twitter: @cabarrusfair

2018 Gate Specials (rides not included):

  • Saturday, September 8 – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
    Free General Gate Admission for all from 1 p.m.-2 p.m., only.
  • Sunday, September 9 – Cooperative Christian Ministries Canned Food Drive
    Free General Gate Admission for all from 1-3 p.m. with any brand of four canned food items per adult and two canned food items per child.
  • Tuesday, September 11 – School Education Night
    General Gate Admission, $4 for those 12 and older and $2 for kids, ages 6-11.
  • Thursday, September 13 – Salute to Seniors Night
    General Gate Admission price of $4.30 for seniors ages 55 and older from 4-6 p.m., only. Price includes sales tax.
  • Catch the Fair for free on Fridays
    Present your high school football ticket stub at the gate after the game on Friday, September 7 and 14, only, and get free gate admission for the corresponding evening.


Advanced online ticket purchases (August 1-September 6): 
The public can purchase discounted tickets and ride wristband vouchers online at a reduced rate through September 6. The tickets are only available online at www.cabarruscountyfair.com. Click on the Fair Info & Ticketing tab. Advance adults admission tickets for ages 12-64 are $5.35—a $2 savings off the gate price. Purchase advance ride wristband vouchers for $15—a $5 savings.

IMPORTANT information about 2018 Contest entries:  There’s still time to enter a Fair contest to earn your bragging rights. Choose from hundreds of categories from photography to baking. One adult and one youth are awarded with the Best of Show Award and will continue on to compete in the North Carolina State Fair Best of Show contest, for a chance to win $500. The 2018 Cabarrus County Fair Catalog is available online at www.cabarruscountyfair.com. Click on the Competitions tab to view contests, programs and other entry opportunities. All entry forms must be submitted to the Fair office by noon on Wednesday, August 22.

Onsite ticket prices: General Gate admission to the fair are $7.50 for ages 12-64, $5.35 for ages 65+ other senior age says 55+ and those with military ID, $3.25 for ages 6-11 and ages 5 and younger are admitted free. Parking is freeAll transactions at the Fair are cash only. ATMs are located at the main gate and throughout the midway, but do carry a surcharge.

Shuttle service: Cabarrus County Transportation Service (CCTS) provides complimentary parking lot shuttle van service for the satellite parking lots during the weekends. Satellite parking lots are only operational on weekends and CCTS vans run at specified hours.

2018 Shuttle Van Service Schedule:

Saturday, September 8, 12 p.m.-12 a.m.

Sunday, September 9, 12 p.m.-12 a.m.

Friday, September 14, 6 p.m.-12 a.m.

Saturday, September 15, 12 p.m.-12 a.m.

Entertainment: There’s plenty of Fair just beyond the midway. The Cabarrus County Fair features a butterfly encounter, petting zoo, livestock displays, sand castle carving, milking booth and educational exhibits. Live performances include Mountain Mike chainsaw creations, Robinson’s Racing Pigs, K9’s in Flight and Rockstar Karaoke. Watch live demonstrations from local beekeepers, Master Gardeners, wood turners, and stop by the open forge fire for sustainable living demonstrations and view local farm equipment on display. See www.cabarruscountyfair.com for entertainment details.

The New 103.7 Stage performances:

Fridays, 7-9 p.m.

Monday- Thursday 7-8:30 p.m.

            Saturday, September 8, 7:30-10 p.m.

Sunday, September 9, Rockstar Karaoke 4-5:30 p.m. and 7-9:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 15, Rockstar Karaoke 4:30-6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Background: The Cabarrus County Agricultural Fair began in 1953. The 2017 Cabarrus County Fair received nine awards form the International Association of Agricultural Fairs and Expos (IAFE) and three awards from the North Carolina Association of Agricultural Fairs.

For more information visit www.cabarruscountyfair.com or follow www.facebook.com/cabarruscountyfair.

 

Baseball broadcast

Concord Post 51 beats Mocksville 10-4 in American Legion Senior Baseball. Note there is no audio in the pregame and play-by-play picks up with the National Anthem and as the action begins. This game was played Friday, June 22, 2018.

Worship from McGill