Colorful leaves, pumpkin carving, and Halloween are all trademarks of October, but many people say the highlight of this fall month is the North Carolina State Fair. On October 12th, the State Fair kicks-off the 2017 season, attracting people of all ages from all over our state.  Each attendee is in pursuit of a thrilling ride, great food, fun events, or a combination of all the above and in mass quantities.

If you’re a fan of trying new and exciting foods, the State Fair is the place for you! Some fair classics are a “must try” including Krispy Kreme burgers, fried Oreos, turkey legs (Mr. Tucker’s favorite), funnel cake, ribbon fries, and (my personal favorite) homemade ice-cream. For some, these favorite foods are the main attraction of the fair. This year, the fair is offering some new (and interesting) foods. Mouthwatering deep fried pumpkin pie is being served with cinnamon vanilla ice-cream. For those who love pumpkin spice flavoring in the fall, this is the food for you. Going with the “pumpkin” theme, the fair is also offering pumpkin milkshakes topped with whip-cream and pie crust crumbles. Sounds delicious! This is also the first year that the fair is showcasing forty different breweries and wineries taking place at “Our State Public House” (located in Heritage Circle); people over the age of twenty-one can buy a ticket ($10) and sample different styles of beer and wine. The State Fair is the destination for all food-lovers, both those who love trying new and (sometimes interesting) foods such as the Krispy Kreme burger and those who just enjoy a good ‘ole classic like a turkey leg.

Other fun attractions of the fair include rides, games, and shows. This year it is introducing four new rides: Air Raid (8 tickets), F5 (5 tickets), Fun Time Railroad (3 tickets), and Dodgems Chop Shop (5 tickets). As fun as these new rides are sure to be, the Ferris Wheel takes the prize. There is just no beating the view as you look out over the fair-grounds from the top of the Ferris Wheel, especially at night when the fair-grounds are lit up with bright, colorful lights. Scattered throughout the fair are multiple games and activities where you can win cool prizes and compete against friends and family. You can also watch shows at the fair such as a tractor pull, stunt shows, and even a demo derby. See the NC State Fair website for more details about dates and times for those shows. My only advice is to wait until AFTER you have gone on daring rides to eat lots of fair food. Yep, just a heads-up.

Along with the rides and food, the State Fair offers many competitions and exhibits. There are competitions for art, food, and clothing. There are also garden exhibits displaying beautiful flower arrangements when you need a break from the crowds. The Livestock Competition is always interesting. This past year, twenty-eight students were given scholarships for their participation in the Livestock competitions so get ready to see prize winning goats, pigs, cows, and sheep.

The history of the NC State Fair is interesting. In 1853, our first fair was only four days long with around 4,000 people in attendance. It was not held during the Civil War or during the Reconstruction period, but it reopened in 1869. A few years later, the fair moved closer to NC State University and in 1884 settled at its present site. The fair continued to grow dramatically as the use of electricity allowed for night attendance, new rides and games, and better ways of cooking food on-site. The NC Fair continued until World War II broke out. Immediately after the war, it reopened with explosive excitement offering one million free tickets to students from across North Carolina. The Fair continued this marketing approach and over the next sixty years, they continuously added more rides, food choices, and games along with highlighting animal shows and stunt demonstrations. Today, the fair is attended by over one million people! Be one of them this year!!

Source: http://www.ncstatefair.org/2017/index.htm