Gaston County Parks & Recreation

10/12/2026

The Poston Park playground will be closed Monday October 12 until further notice as we continue scheduled maintenance. We will share an update with the playground will be reopened.

The playground near the baseball fields at George Poston Park will be closed today, September 30, for surface maintenance.

But there are still plenty of places to play! The playground near the Lake Loop at Poston Park remains open, along with playgrounds at our other Gaston County parks.

We appreciate your patience while we complete this maintenance and help keep our playgrounds safe and ready for everyone to enjoy!

10/11/2026

There will be NO parking available in the field in front of the Dallas Jail today due to mud and flooding.

All parking will be directed to Gaston College and handicap will directed to park at the main parking lot on festival grounds when available. There is NO parking inside of festival grounds except for permitted vendors and exhibitors.

There will be two shuttles running from Gaston College to the festival now instead of one. Shuttles will begin around 10am and will run until 5pm.

We appreciate the community coming out to support the festival and being gracious with our changes as we try to make this even the best we can this year with the weather!

10/10/2026

The entrance to Dallas Park is scheduled to close at 9am. There is NO festival parking inside of Dallas Park today with the exception of our handicap parking lot (when available). Vendors are still to be inside the festival grounds by 9am.

There will be 1 shuttle running round-trip from Gaston College (enter from Dallas Cherryville Highway) on a condensed schedule.

SATURDAY 10am-3pm
SUNDAY 12pm-5pm

Kid rides will NOT operate on Saturday but will be operate 10am-5pm on Sunday. Rides are located at the SplashPad Parking lot behind the Cotton Gin. Gem Mining is located at the Heritage VIllage both days.

10/09/2026

Cotton Ginning Days | Weekend Schedule Updates!

We're making a few changes to our weekend schedule as we keep an eye on the weather, but there's still plenty of fun to be had at Cotton Ginning Days!

Unfortunately all live music for this weekend has been cancelled due to weather.

FRIDAY | 10 AM–5 PM
It's a beautiful day to enjoy the festival! Many of our vendors will be staying open until 6–7 PM, so come on out and enjoy the evening with us!

SATURDAY | 10 AM–3 PM
With rain in the forecast, we're shortening Saturday's hours and the Kid Zone will be closed.

A limited shuttle schedule will be available this weekend. We'll share those details Saturday morning before 10 AM, so be sure to check back before heading out!

SUNDAY | 10 AM–5 PM
Good news! We're extending Sunday's hours AND bringing the Kid Zone rides back!
- Unlimited ride wristbands will be available for $10.
- Tractor Rodeo at 4pm; fun for all ages and the winner will be crowned at the conclusion!

A Quick Parking Reminder:
There is NO public parking inside the festival grounds. Only permitted vendors and exhibitors may park within the festival.

We appreciate everyone's understanding as we make the most of this weekend, rain or shine! Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages for any additional updates.

We hope to see you at Dallas Park!

10/09/2026

KID ZONE UPDATE!

We've made a little change to our Kid Zone plans for this weekend!

FRIDAY ONLY | 10 AM–5 PM
The Kid Zone is moving to the Horse Arena, where kids can enjoy FREE inflatable games and slides!

Plus, don't miss the family-favorite Tractor Rodeo at 4 PM both days!

SATURDAY (Weather Permitting)
The Kid Zone will return to its original location near the splash pad parking lot and soccer field, but inflatables will not be available.

Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages for any additional weather-related updates throughout the weekend!

10/08/2026

🚜TRACTOR PARADE🚜

Tomorrow at 9am, the annual Tractor Parade will pull out of the Gaston County Park marking the kick off of the Cotton Ginning Days Festival. As there will be no roads closed along the route, please be patient as the parade travels down Trade Street to Gaston Street to Main Street, down by Carr Elementary and then back to Trade Street to return to the park. Come out and see all the participants! Thanks and stay safe!

10/08/2026

Cotton Ginning Days kicks off TOMORROW!

We're excited to welcome everyone to Dallas Park for the 39th Annual Cotton Ginning Days, October 9–11!

Festival Hours:
Friday & Saturday | 10 AM–5 PM (tractor parade through Dallas at 9am Friday!)
Sunday | 10 AM–3 PM

IMPORTANT TRAFFIC INFORMATION: Please review the traffic pattern pictured below before arriving! All festival traffic must enter from Justice Court. The main park entrance on Leisure Lane will be closed Saturday 9-5pm, and Tandem Drive will be exit only.

PARKING: General parking is located in the field in front of the prison off Dallas Cherryville Highway. A free internal tram will be running throughout the festival weekend from the parking lot into festival grounds.

On Saturday, beginning at 10 AM, there will be a free shuttle from Gaston College overflow parking to the festival. This will run until 5 PM continuously. Please note that handicap parking is available at the festival.  the shuttles from Gaston College are not handicap accessible. 

WEATHER UPDATE: We're keeping a close eye on the forecast! Cotton Ginning Days is a rain-or-shine event, and we're moving forward as planned. However, some activities and events may be adjusted throughout the weekend depending on weather conditions.

We'll post any changes or updates here on Facebook and Instagram, so be sure to check our pages throughout the weekend for the latest information!

We can't wait to see everyone!

10/07/2026

Looking for a different kind of fall day?

Step into a Gaston County tradition at Cotton Ginning Days. See the cotton gin in action, explore the grounds, enjoy local food and activities, and experience a piece of the history that helped shape Gaston County.

Cotton Ginning Days
October 9-11, 2026

📍 Dallas Park | Dallas, NC

10/07/2026

2 DAYS UNTIL COTTON GINNING DAYS!

Come hungry! With more than 20 food and drink vendors joining us throughout the weekend, there will be plenty to choose from while you explore the festival.

Burgers, BBQ, tacos, hibachi, loaded potatoes, burritos, ice cream, slushies, lemonade, sweet treats and more — there’s something for just about everyone.

October 9–11, 2026 | Dallas Park

Only TWO more days! What are you looking forward to trying?

*Food vendor availability may vary by day.

10/06/2026

Only 3 DAYS until Cotton Ginning Days!

Bring the whole family out to Dallas Park October 9–11 for a weekend packed with tractors, demonstrations, vendors, food, live music and plenty for the kids!

🎡 Saturday ONLY – Kid Zone
$10 unlimited ride wristbands • FREE inflatables • $5 Monster Mini Golf • Pony rides with 4-H Blazing Saddles
💎 All Weekend – Gem Mining

Stop by and try your hand at gem mining throughout the festival!

📍 Dallas Park
📅 October 9–11, 2026

3 DAYS TO GO! We’ll see you at Cotton Ginning Days!