Author: Candy Apple

American Aquarium performance in Dorton is delayed but not denied

American Aquarium was set to open the 2018 N.C. State Fair, but severe threatening weather postponed the bands’ debut on the Dorton Arena stage. Jumping ahead to 2019, fairgoers can see the latest lineup of the Raleigh-based band on Thursday, Oct. 24, in Dorton Arena. The long-awaited show will feature the alternative country sound that has drawn critical praise and comparisons to Bruce Springsteen and a former Raleigh band, Whiskeytown. The following is adapted from a Deep Fried Blog post from 2018: “Tough times don’t last, but tough folks do.” BJ Barham, front man of American Aquarium, lives those words….

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Extensive collection of plows and farm equipment donated to NCDA&CS

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has received a generous gift from the estate of John William “Bill” Turner: a large collection of antique plows and associated farm equipment. A portion of the collection has been on display in the Antique Farm Machinery barn at the State Fair, nestled among other rare and unique items. Bill Turner and his father, Sam, shared a love of the “tools of the earth.” Bill grew up at the foot of Cherry Mountain, in an old home with no electricity or running water. In an essay written in 2008, he described a…

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Pack Pullers’ tractor on display at N.C. State Fair

Visit the Antique Farm Machinery barn near the Village of Yesteryear, and you’ll see a tractor that stands out from many of the historic pieces. North Carolina State University’s Pack Pullers tractor is on display, and it’s a shining example of modern engineering. Pack Pullers has developed the tractor to compete in an engineering contest that helps prepare students for workplace challenges by providing real-world engineering practice. Students learn technical and professional skills and gain hands-on design experience through the development of sophisticated pulling technology. Each team is provided a 31-horsepower Briggs & Stratton engine and a set of Titan…

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Giant pumpkin and watermelon set new State Fair records

A 1,551.5-pound pumpkin grown by Chris Rodebaugh of Lewisburg, W. Va. and a watermelon weighing 327.5 pounds grown by Christopher Kent of Sevierville, Tenn. took the top prizes in the N.C. State Fair’s Great Pumpkin and Watermelon Weigh-Off. Both entries shattered previous N. C State Fair records. Rodebaugh is a first-time grower, and gathered the information needed to grow his super-sized pumpkin from the internet. “I saw some entries into my local State Fair in West Virginia and thought, ‘that’s pretty neat.’ I thought I’d try to grow one myself,” he said. When asked if he’d return in 2019, he…

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Lumberjack Competition showcases talent, promotes environmental stewardship

The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show returns to the State Fair this year with displays that will leave you buzzing from excitement. A 6-man team of professional lumberjacks will chop, saw and roll their way through this highly competitive performance. This year, the show is bringing a new canine competitor to North Carolina: Gracie, the log rolling dog. Gracie is about a year old, and she’s the only silver Labrador log-rolling dog currently performing in lumberjack competitions. She’ll try to stay afloat as the logs do their best to spin her into the water. The Lumberjack Show features events like springboard…

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“Touch and See” offers interactive display for Fairgoers with visual impairments

The Handicrafts and Hobbies competition showcases the work of some of our state’s most talented painters, wood carvers, quilters, glassblowers and potters. In the Commercial Building, you’ll find handmade items created by young and old alike. However, the displays come with a warning: please don’t touch the crafts. Judith Uhrick, superintendent of Handicrafts and Hobbies, hopes to change that with a new exhibit. She and others developed an idea for “Touch and See” – an interactive, tactile display that makes Handicrafts and Hobbies more welcoming to those with visual impairments. At Touch and See, participants can hold and manipulate different…

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Take the Selfie Challenge!

Pics or it didn’t happen! The Selfie Challenge is part scavenger hunt and part photo contest. Can you find all 14 items? Participation is easy: Visit the N.C. State Fair Snap a selfie with each listed item Upload your selfies to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and include  #ncstatefair  in the caption Some items will be harder than others. You’ll have to check the daily schedule for Casey’s appearances at Casey’s Clubhouse. The stilt walkers are a roving act, so keep an eye out around the Flower and Garden Show. Be prepared to stay up late to snap the last item, as fireworks…

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Between The Buried and Me return home to Raleigh Oct. 19

Progressive metal. Metalcore. Avante-garde metal. Mathcore. Thrash metal. While many musical terms can describe the work of Between The Buried And Me, there’s not one that encompasses all they bring to their audience. Internationally-renowned Between The Buried and Me will return to their hometown to grace the stage of Dorton Arena during this year’s State Fair. The quintet – Tommy Giles Rogers, Jr., Paul Waggoner, Dustie Waring, Blake Richardson and Dan Briggs – is set to deliver an ever-evolving performance to the Oak City crowd before embarking on an extensive European tour this fall and winter. BTBAM is not your…

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