2013 N.C. State Fair

Egg art from the 2013 N.C. State Fair

Funhouse April 16 August 5

In communities across the state this weekend, children and adults alike will be dyeing and adorning eggs for hunting and table decorations. We wanted to take a minute to show off a few of the decorated eggs from the 2013 N.C. State Fair Egg Art Competition sponsored by the N.C. Egg Association. Participants blow out the material inside the egg and then decorate based on a specific fair theme. For 2013, the theme was “North Carolina’s Homecoming.” Eggs become property of the N.C. Egg Association and are used in displays to promote North Carolina eggs across the state. If you…

Blue Ribbon desserts for Thanksgiving

Funhouse November 25 November 22

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but there is still time to add a blue-ribbon-winning dessert to the table. “We had hundreds of entries in this year’s cooking contests at the State Fair, and the three listed here all placed first in their competitions,” said Lisa Prince, State Fair cooking contest coordinator. “If you are going to try one of these desserts for a holiday get-together this year, I recommend using fresh ingredients and follow the directions carefully.” More winning recipes can be found on the State Fair’s website under cooking competitions. Peanut Butter Cake ¾ cup butter ½ cup…

11 months to go

Firecracker November 22 November 22

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It’s been about a month since the gates closed on the 2013 N.C. State Fair. And the countdown clock says we are still 327 days away from when the 2014 fair opens. So to miss the fair a little less, I found two of our favorite fan-created videos from the fair. They are both great and have equally great soundtracks to go along with them. Enjoy! A view from a Go-Pro from the Silver Feather Sudios blog: Fairgoer David Huppert (@hupdiggs) managed to hit up most corners of the fairgrounds. Happy Friday!

Anniversary quilt at the N.C. Museum of History

Jane Deere November 6 November 6

As the 2013 N.C. State Fair wrapped up, a special commemorative quilt created to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the first fair moved to a temporary new home at the N.C. Museum of History. FFA and 4-H chapters from 36 counties submitted quilt squares for the project, and quilting volunteers and attendees at the N.C. State Fair this year helped sew the squares together in the Village of Yesteryear. Lisa McCarty of Clayton, Carol Ditto of Garner and Jane Pace of Archer Lodge pieced the squares together by making the top of the quilt and then putting it on the quilt…

The interns take on fair freebies

Jane Deere October 27 October 27

Throughout the week, our Facebook fans have submitted suggestions of challenges Cowbelle and I, Jane Deere, could complete at the fair. Ideas ranged from eating fried frog legs and learning from Wacky Wheeler to playing the Fool the Guesser game and milking cows. The final idea, given by the Deep Fried Crew, was to take to the fairgrounds looking for every freebie we could find. Fair Freebie Challenge rules were as follows: We had to leave and return to the Press Office within one hour exactly. No golf carts or other transportation could be used to manevuer the grounds. Interns had to stay…

Why’s that cow so skinny? CowBelle explains the difference between dairy cattle and beef cattle

CowBelle October 26 October 26

As a cattle farmer I get a lot of questions about cattle at the fair. One common question is “Why are those big black and white cows so skinny?” They are referring to Holstein cattle, a dairy breed, and they are very healthy animals. There is a difference between beef cattle and dairy cattle. Beef cattle are being raised for meat and have a heavier appearance, while dairy cattle are being raised for milk production and have a lighter appearance. Beef cattle use feed to put on weight through muscle and fat. Dairy cattle won’t convert their feed into muscle…

Pickles, peanuts and fair traditions

Funhouse October 24 October 26

Most fairgoers like their traditions. Some only want the steak sandwich found at that one food booth that they eat at every single year. Others must always start their fair day at the same gate and visit their favorite fair attractions in the same order. One family we know always starts their day at the fair at the grist mill near Heritage Circle, with a hot, free hush puppy. For others, it’s a trip to the Commercial and Education Building for a pickle, a peanut sample and then a bag of peanuts to take home. Since the 1950s, Mt. Olive…

Make your trip to the fair a love a-fair

Jane Deere October 23 October 23

Funhouse and I collaborated on what would be the perfect fair date. We’ve come up with five things you must do on a date at the N.C. State Fair. Start your visit with a stroll through the Flower Show. The Flower Show is a beautiful oasis at the fairgrounds. You and your date can come take a stroll through the winding paths of gardens and get your photo taken on the giant Adirondack chair built for two. If you wait until dark, the Flower Show is lit up with luminaries, adding a little romance to the air. The Flower and Garden Show is…

(Intern) challenge accepted

Jane Deere October 22 October 22

In a typical workplace, the interns usually do the necessary-but-mundane office tasks and “grunt work.” At the N.C. State Fair, the Deep Fried Crew is careful to make sure interns get fully immersed in every aspect of fair promotions. To help us earn our State Fair stripes, the Deep Fried Crew cooked up an intern challenge “opportunity” where Facebook fans get to suggest things for us to do. Check out our Facebook page to make suggestions and to vote for your favorite adventure for us. It’s safe to say that Cowbelle and I will go through the ringer of audience-voted challenges, covering everything from rides…

You can do WHAT at the fair?

Firecracker October 22 October 21

Everyone knows the basics of what you can do at the fair — eat a wide variety of foods, get spun in every direction on our 100-plus midway rides or watch a livestock show or two. However, the fair isn’t all fun, games and livestock. You can mark things off your to-do list while you’re here as well. Here are some things you probably didn’t know you can do while walking around with a turkey leg: 1. Get a flu shot. Kerr Drug is once again offering flu shots at two locations on the fairgrounds: next to the waterfall on…

Category: 2013 N.C. State Fair