City May Take More Time To Consider Dixie Classic Name Change

The City of Winston-Salem may slow down the process of possibly renaming the Dixie Classic Fair. 

Officials have canceled meetings this month that were designed to help deliver a potential new name to City Council in August. The Winston-Salem Journal reports that under the original timeline, the change would have taken effect in 2020.

Assistant City Manager Ben Rowe says staffers will put together a proposal to hire a consultant to help come up with a new name. Any potential change would now go into effect in 2021.

Some opponents of the name “Dixie Classic” say it evokes images of slavery and the Confederacy.  A majority of respondents to a survey said they wanted to keep the name.

The city formed committees to look at a potential change, but some members have complained the process has been rushed. They say more effort should be put into ensuring the appeal and durability of a new name. 

Editor's note: A previous version of this story noted a majority of residents responding to a survey said they wanted to keep the name. Without defining "residents," we clarified the copy to change the word to "respondents."