2018 N.C. State Fair

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

Candy Apple October 15 October 15

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…

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

Fried Oreo October 14 October 14

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…

Woman completes bucket list item with cooking competition win

Funhouse October 14 October 14

Mary Boury returned to the N.C. State Fair to mark something off her bucket list – competing in the Special Cooking Contests . It paid off on opening day with a first-place win for the N.C. Peanut Growers Association recipe contest and a third-place win in House-Autry Mills Cornbread Challenge. Boury is originally from Girard, Pa. She moved here years ago because her daughter lives here and she became a regular at entering cooking competitions at the fair. “Mary moved back to Pennsylvania a few years ago,” said Lisa Prince, special cooking contest superintendent. “We haven’t seen her in the…

Noche Latina brings Hispanic heritage to the Fair

Fried Oreo October 9 October 8

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…

Basnight’s is back with more local seafood

Teacup October 9 October 4

Basnight’s Lone Cedar Café made its fair debut with a bang in 2017 featuring menu items such as jumbo lump crab dip, bacon-wrapped scallops and shrimp and grits. But for Caroline Basnight, the spotlight shines on local fishermen. “We try to use ingredients grown in North Carolina for everything we serve,” Basnight said, “but there’s never been a day we’ve served anything but local seafood. Her parents opened the Nags Head restaurant in 1995, and since her mother came from a background of commercial fishing, there was never a doubt that the family would use local seafood. At Basnight’s fair…

Friday Frenzy, Dizzy Passes and other tips for parents of teens headed to the Fair

Funhouse October 8 October 9

Getting old enough to walk around the fair without your parents is a rite of passage for many youth. Here’s a few tips to help nervous parents navigate sending their teen out on their own. Have a meeting place. Suggestions for a good meeting place are the waterfall area, the Martin Building on the Midway or the Tobacco Pavilion. Don’t rely just on cell phones. With the rides and number of people, the fair can be a noisy place. Don’t count on your teen hearing their cell phone. Also, on busy days, cell service can be a little spotty. Purchase…

Science is in motion on this year’s N.C. State Fair rides

Teacup October 7 October 4

Imagine you’re on a fair ride. Do you notice how you pick up speed during slopes on the Fun Slide? What about the decreasing height of the hills on the Mighty Mouse Coaster? Do you feel like you’re being pushed outward on the Merry-Go-Round? Believe it or not, this can all be explained by scientific forces. How does this work? Laura Bottomley, the director of North Carolina State University’s K-12 engineering outreach unit, The Engineering Place, said the same concepts are behind almost every ride you go on at the fair. “It’s momentum, friction and forces in motion,” she said,…

Casey’s Clubhouse, Fire Safety Show and other ways to enjoy the Fair with young children

Funhouse October 7 October 6

Coming to the Fair with young ones in tow? A little advanced planning can help you make the most of your day. Here are some tips and not-to-be-missed activities for the elementary-aged and younger at the fair. Buy your tickets before the fair starts. Tickets can be purchased at Food Lion, online, the N.C. Museum of History, State Farmers Market and at Gate 9 at the Fairgrounds. It’s no fun to stand in line and purchasing in advance means designated fast-track admission at the entrance gate. Kids under six years old get into the fair free. However, with an Kiddieland…

Fairgrounds improvements put rabbit show on hiatus

Funhouse October 5 October 5

There are some changes to the fairgrounds in an area that generally featured one of the tightest pedestrian walkways at the fair. Fairgoers coming in from Gate 8 and walking up past the Village of Yesteryear would typically face a congested area where the rabbit barn, MarketPlace and N.C. State Howling Cow ice cream booth are located. This spring the rabbit barn building was torn down to open the space up in this area. “The number of exhibitors in our rabbit show has declined over the years,” said Kent Yelverton, fair manager. “The facility that was used to house the…

It’s “farm-to-fair” at Al’s Fries

Teacup October 5 October 4

Al’s French Fries has been around since 1959 as one of the oldest and longest-standing vendors at the fair. Its menu is simple: a heaping portion of hot, delicious french fries with condiments of your choosing. But what you might not expect from this fry stand is that Al’s features locally sourced ingredients straight from North Carolina farmers. For Debbie Anderson, it’s all about honoring her father’s legacy. “We’ve never strayed from what Daddy did,” Anderson said. “We still buy potatoes from Ford’s Produce, we always fry in peanut oil and we still serve Coke products.” Anderson’s father, Al Beckwith,…

Category: 2018 N.C. State Fair