Author: Blue Ribbon

Natalie Alford blogged for the 2009-2011 N.C. State Fairs. This is her bio from 2009: I work at the Fairgrounds year-round, so I'm always in the middle of the fun! During the Fair, I work with the press office team to organize events and exhibits, and log a lot of miles on my pedometer. I'm also the County Agricultural Fairs Coordinator, which means I license, promote and visit North Carolina's agricultural fairs and enjoy thousands of blue ribbon entries every year. I hope to see you at the Fair!

Weekend Update: January 6-8

Did you get a new boat for Christmas? No? Well, then buy yourself a New Year’s gift starting this Friday at 10 a.m. at the Bass & Saltwater Fishing Expo in the Graham and Expo buildings! This show for the serious fisherman features more than 175 booths offering everything from the latest lures, custom rods, apparel, knives, product sample booths, seminars, electronics and more. The N.C. Bass Federation will host a kid’s zone where youth anglers can cast at targets to gain points. The “G Man” Gerald Swindle, 2011 Elite Tour Champion, will be on hand Saturday and Sunday. And you can…

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State Fair receives awards during annual convention

A few weeks ago, several N.C. State Fair staffers attended the International Association of Fairs & Expos Annual Convention in Las Vegas. The convention was an educational networking event where we met with our counterparts from fairs all over the world to share ideas and resources. There were numerous workshops and roundtable discussions, and we participated in topics on everything from emergency preparedness and guest hospitality to fair-food concessions and unique ideas for agricultural competitions. In the trade show, vendors and entertainers demonstrated their products, and we kept an eye out for some new features to bring to the 2012 State Fair (more on that later). While there, we…

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Take the Deep Fried Bus Ride!

If you’ve ever driven to the State Fair, then you know that traffic can become congested the closer you get to the fairgrounds. While there are parking lots available at Carter-Finley Stadium and surrounding privately-owned locations, you’ll likely wait in line to get into a parking lot, and then spend more time searching for a spot to park. Sounds like a hassle, doesn’t it? Well, we’ve got the solution for you: take the Deep Fried Bus Ride! By riding the bus, you can leave your car in one the conveniently located park-and-ride lots around the Triangle, take a relaxing ride to the fair and get dropped off right at the…

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Artist Spotlight: David Nail

Country singer/songwriter David Nail has been chasing his musical dreams since he graduated from high school in a small southeastern Missouri town. Though he grew up playing baseball and was expected to pursue that career path, when it came time to decide what direction he wanted his life to go, Nashville was where he headed. Nail credits Elton John as one of the main reasons he started singing and calls Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Glen Campbell his all-time favorite star. When in the recording studio, Nail strives to bridge the gap between traditional country and the sounds of soulful masters like Lionel Richie and…

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July 4th Celebration at the Fairgrounds

Make plans to be at the State Fairgrounds on Independence Day for the 2011 July 4th Celebration, presented by the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department and the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Monday’s celebration offers free admission. The City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation staff will host a variety of free activities throughout the fairgrounds from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Enjoy live music f rom local artists, sports challenges, crafts, jumbo games, mini-golf, obstacle courses and more. Test your talents in a “Minute To Win It” challenge, compete against your friends in the interactive, video-gaming area, and cheer for young riders on the miniature, mountain-biking trail. Food vendors will be…

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Got to Be NC Festival and much more

We’re getting ready for a jam-packed weekend full of family fun, and wanted to fill you in on all the activities available at the State Fairgrounds beginning Thursday. The Got to Be NC Festival will take over most of the Fairgrounds with carnival rides and antique tractors on display in the Midway area, vendors and a community stage in the Jim Graham Building and the Food & Wine Expo in the Expo Center. Between the Graham and Expo buildings you’ll find the new Agri-Plaza featuring a Kidz Corral play area and animals on display. In Dorton Triangle, you’ll find dozens of food vendors and the…

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County Fair time!

I took a trip to the Harnett Regional Agricultural Fair yesterday, and I am now officially excited for the 2011 Fair season! This is just the second year for the Harnett Fair located in Lillington, and it offers everything from pig races and blacksmith demonstrations to carnival rides and a demolition derby. There’s also live music and the “Harnett’s Got Talent” event on stage. Yesterday was Youth and Senior Day, and area schools let students out early so they could come to the Fair. There were many people enjoying the Tiny Tot cheerleading competitions, junior beef livestock show, and the blue-ribbon entries and exhibits on…

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Flower Show receives a spring cleaning, thanks to Starbucks

Thanks to a group of Raleigh Starbucks employees, the Fairgrounds Flower Show received a spring cleaning just in time for Earth Day. Starbucks chose the month of April as their Global Month of Service, and selected the Flower Show area as the site for a local community service project. About 20 volunteers worked all day raking, sweeping, painting and generally sprucing up the grounds. Not only did the java-loving volunteers get to dig in the dirt, some were also experiencing the Flower & Garden Show area for the first time, including Cynthia Lancaster, an 11-year employee of the Starbucks on Peace Street in downtown Raleigh. In the…

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Weekend Events: April 1-3

As we gear up for the 2011 N.C. State Fair, Oct. 13-23, we’ll highlight some of the weekend activities at the Fair. Hopefully, they will inspire some of you to come out and enjoy the fairgrounds year round. The weekend starts on Friday at the Fairgrounds! Note: If video doesn’t play, try refreshing browser. From Friday through Sunday, the Fairgrounds will host the Southern Ideal Home Show in the Jim Graham Building and Expo Center, and the Precious Gem & Mineral Show in the Scott Building. On Saturday and Sunday, the Hunt Horse Complex will have a new event called the North…

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Ferris wheel photo winner

Congratulations to Lindsay Dean who submitted her entry for our Ferris Wheel Day photo contest through Twitter, and is the winner of a prize pack including two State Fair T-shirts. Lindsay shot this double exposure photo with her Lomography Diana F+ camera during the 2009 N.C. State Fair. We’ll have more contests and promotions as we ramp up for the 2011 N.C. State Fair, so stay tuned to the Deep Fried @ The N.C. State Fair blog, our Facebook fan page and Twitter for the latest information.

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