The most treasured memories are built around special events, and here in Fayetteville and Lincoln County, we have a number of very special annual festivals that keep our citizens excited all year long.

The centerpiece of the year is undoubtedly the Lincoln County Fair, which has been consistently judged as one of the best local fairs in America. Traditional fair activities include shows, the carnival midway, rides and livestock, agricultural and craft exhibitions. In addition, Lincoln County's fair boasts the only horse harness racing in the State.

Once a year, the courthouse lawn turns into a pasture for Dairy Days, which celebrate Lincoln County's rich agricultural heritage. Ice-cream eating, cow milking, butter churning, a beauty pageant and other fun activities mark this quaint festival.

When the winter holidays roll around, all of Fayetteville and surrounding area becomes a winter wonderland bedecked with lights and greenery for the Host of Christmas Past, our annual celebration of old-time Yuletide joy.

What really sets the area apart, though, is the natural beauty of the Tennessee River Valley. Rolling hills and sloping valleys give the landscape a pastoral quality, and residents enjoy bonding with the outdoors through activities such as fishing and canoeing on the Elk River, cycling, hiking and hunting. The river is vital to the area, and at Stone Bridge Memorial Park, near the center of Fayetteville, you'll find a replica of the historic Stone Bridge and Pristine Cascade that also includes two historic log cabins, a visitor center, and numerous recreational activities.