Author: Fried Oreo

On the blog I go by Fried Oreo (AKA Emily Hughes). At the Fair, you'll find me checking out the live music or hanging out in Heritage Circle. My absolute favorite part of the Fair is getting a taste of all the different kinds of food! Counting down the days until it all begins!

N.C. State Fair’s special cooking contests are here and more delicious than ever

For home cooks who are looking to show off your talents, your time to shine is here! The N.C. State Fair’s special cooking contests have been announced, so it’s that time to perfect your recipes for the fair competitions. With a little luck you can take home the top prize. This year’s competitions will be headed by new superintendent Lisa Lincoln. Long time participants will recognize Lincoln, she’s worked with former superintendent Lisa Prince for 13 years, so she’s familiar with the competitions and many competitors. Each day brings a new contest and a new team of judges to sample…

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Kachunga & the Alligator make a splash here at the fair

All the way from Florida, Kachunga, an alligator expert and “American Bushman,” came to wow fairgoers at the N.C. State Fair.  The show includes two alligator experts and of course, a feisty 7-foot alligator. Kachunga and the Alligator have been traveling across the country for the last 15 years to educate and entertain audiences about these cold-blooded creatures. The educational yet comical show presents exactly how and why alligators react to humans and other wildlife the way that they do. Kachunga explained that “alligators use their long tails as a weapon or defense because of how heavy and strong it…

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Aromatic Roasters Roast Up the Best Cup of Joe at N.C. State Fair

Dominic Treadwell with Aromatic Roasters of Pittsboro won the annual coffee competition on Friday, Oct. 12.  This brew master won $100 along with a N.C. State Fair ribbon and, of course, bragging rights. The contest is sponsored by Dilworth Coffee and Stockton Graham & Co. Mello Coffee Roasters of Davidson was named reserve champion and earned $75. Honorable mention went to Carrboro Coffee Roasters of Carrboro. The 12 competitors were judged based on their brew’s aroma, flavor, balance, after taste, acidity, body, sweetness and overall impression. Exhibitors were responsible for a written description of their coffee entry, roasted coffee beans…

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Noche Latina brings Hispanic heritage to the Fair

It’s a night of art, music and entertainment representing our Latin community. Check out the performances on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Dorton Arena. Throughout the evening, a Venezuelan dance group and a Mexican dance group will perform, along with a salsa band and a mariachi band. The individuals in Noche Latina are all community members that were chosen to perform to embody the Latina heritage in the Triangle area.  The groups will perform traditional dances and music to represent the diversified cultures in our society. “Noche Latina is looking forward to engaging with people in the community…

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On-the-Spot Competitions are back with more events than ever at the NC State Fair

Good news fairgoers! Based on the popularity of the On-the-Spot Competitions at the fair, we’ve decided to ramp up the variety of events to give visitors an opportunity for daily participation. Although these competitions don’t come with money rewards, they do come with ribbons and bragging rights! Competitions were chosen based on their success and popularity at other fairs. “Many fairs host an on-the-spot event where visitors can compete, well, on the spot,” said John Buettner, competitive exhibits director. “Winners of these competitions take home a ribbon, bragging rights, and sometimes the item they were using to compete, such as…

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RaeLynn & Bucky Covington bring a night of country to Dorton Arena

Country singers RaeLynn and Bucky Covington will be making ties back to their Carolina roots as they perform at the N.C. State Fair in the Homegrown Music Fest on Monday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Dorton Arena. Here’s a little refresher on the artists: RaeLynn RaeLynn auditioned for the second season of The Voice, where she was given her platform and began her career as a country singer. Since her time on the Emmy-winning show, she has released numerous singles including “God Made Girls,” which was the highest debut single by a solo female upon its release in 2014,…

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Taste of the Fair

We’ve got a delicious way to help you get ready for the N.C. State Fair! The first-ever ‘Taste of the State Fair’ events will be held at four locations across the region. Attendees will be able to sample fair-food favorites for free with any advance purchase of N.C. State Fair tickets. Food truck vendors will be serving tasty crowd favorites such as deep-fried Oreos, chicken and waffle tacos and Krispy Kreme burgers. Menu items will vary by location. Attendees will also be able to purchase food separately. “This is a great way to raise awareness for the N.C. State Fair…

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Comedian James Gregory brings the laughs to Dorton Arena Tuesday, Oct. 23

The Funniest Man in America will be bringing his Southern, down-home, storytelling style of comedy to Dorton Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 23. James Gregory has been performing stand-up comedy to sold-out crowds in theaters and comedy clubs for over 20 years. Before pursuing comedy, Gregory worked for the U.S. Postal Service, the Department of Defense, and as a salesman selling vacuum cleaners, encyclopedias… you name it. The Georgia native’s clean style of humor is based on his observations and real-life incidents, turning common and ordinary events into hilarious stories. On his website, Gregory says, “My comedy is based on my…

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CMA nominee for vocal duo of the year Love and Theft performing Monday, Oct. 20

Love and Theft, the two-man band made up of Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson, hit the ground running when their first single, “Runaway,” made it to the Top 10.  The band, formed in 2006 and signed to Carolwood Records in 2009, was the opening act for Taylor Swift’s 2009 tour. And as every dedicated Taylor Swift fan like myself knows, Love and Theft’s Stephen Liles is who she is singing about in her song “Hey Stephen.” “Dancing in Circles,” from their debut album reached the Top 40, peaking at number 25. They followed up with a second single, “Angel…

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Up and coming country band Parmalee will be performing Oct. 19.

Brothers Matt and Scott Thomas, plus cousin Barry Knox and childhood friend Josh McSwain, make up Parmalee, a band whose roots are firmly planted in Greenville, N.C., where they grew up together. In fact, the name “Parmalee” comes from the name of a town just a few miles away called Parmele. The group just made history with its No. 1 hit single “Carolina,” which is the longest-climbing single by a duo or group in the history of the Billboard Country Airplay Chart. Earlier this year, the band was also nominated for the Academy of Country Music’s New Artist of the…

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