2010 N.C. State Fair

Twitter roundup: Ten terrifying rides you won’t want to miss at this year’s State Fair

Tilt-A-Whirl July 22 July 20

The first ride debuted at the N.C. State Fair in 1891. It was called the Switchback Railway and is similar to what we think of today as a roller coaster. Since that time, the number of rides and the importance of the midway has increased as the fair has moved away from focusing solely on agriculture to promoting and celebrating North Carolina industry and culture more generally. The fair has a diverse offering of some pretty amazing rides, we posted some tweets on rides over the past week (#10terryifyingrides) to show people all the great adventures. Like we did last…

Thank you for helping us Celebrate What’s Great!

Bearded Lady October 26 November 5

The final fireworks have exploded and the gates have closed on the 2010 N.C. State Fair. This year was one for the record books. Over our 11-day run, 1,091,887 people visited the Fair to enjoy the rides, food and exhibits that have become family traditions. On behalf of the entertainers, vendors and employees of the Fair, we want to say thank you for coming to the 2010 N.C. State Fair. Note: If video doesn’t appear, try refreshing browser.

Deep Fried Review: Fried Frito Pie

Blue Ribbon October 17 October 17

My mouth has been watering in anticipation of tasting the Fried Frito Pie since I first heard it was going to be at the N.C. State Fair. I simply couldn’t resist this recipe description: Texas chili mixed with mild cheddar cheese, wrapped in Frito corn chips, then battered and fried. The dish comes with a side of salsa and sour cream. Steph’s Strawberries, located near the Village of Yesteryear in front of the Rabbit Barn, serves up a large portion of the deep-fried treat. Check out this deep fried review: Note: If video doesn’t appear, try refreshing your browser. Check back during the Fair…

Progress Photo: Friday

Bearded Lady October 8 October 8

Friday was a warm and beautiful day at the fairgrounds. The crew from Powers Great American Midways is putting together several rides including Fighter, the newest ride at the Fair. Many food vendors were spotted last weekend, and more will be placed into position this weekend. In the entry departments, workers were busy accepting entries and potential blue-ribbon winners. They’ll be even more activity this weekend, and we’ll be here to keep you posted on the progress.

Sounds from the Waterfall and Bluegrass Stages

Bearded Lady September 23 September 23

Dorton Arena isn’t the only place to find amazing performances during the Fair. Music lovers will want to make sure they check out the free concerts at the Waterfall Stage and Bluegrass Stage during the Fair. Just outside Dorton Arena on the northwest lawn, Raleigh native Jeanne Jolly will play a mix of country, folk and Americana songs. The singer/songwriter, who has been compared to Alison Krauss, spent a lot of her youth in the Blue Ridge Moutains listening to its influential bluegrass sound. After moving to Los Angeles and traveling across North America in a jazz group, Jeanne is back in North…

Ride Report: Fighter debuts in 2010

Bearded Lady September 13 September 9

Do you spend your days at the Fair alternating between deep-fried goodness and stomach-churning rides? Well, this may interest you: Powers Great American Midways, which brought last year’s popular Vertigo ride, recently confirmed the latest ride to grace the midway at the N.C. State Fair. It’s called Fighter. According to the manufacturer, this ride combines the rotating movements of a carousel with the pendulum motion of a swing. This results in a smooth but exciting ride with unlimited variations. You can view a video of the ride below. Note: If video doesn’t appear, try refreshing your browser. Getting the ride to the…

Deep FRIEDays: Worth It Cafe

Bearded Lady September 10 September 9

Craving deep-fried goodness, but can’t wait until October? We’re here to help. Each Friday in September, Bearded Lady will visit a local Best Dish in N.C. restaurant to see what chefs are frying to satisfy a Fair fanatic’s hunger. Along the way, he’ll sample deep-fried creations worthy of the N.C. State Fair. And, while you won’t find these foods at the Fair, you will find them throughout the year at our participating restaurants. Last Friday, we sampled deep-fried goodness from Papa Mojo’s Roadhouse. This week, we continue our search for local restaurants serving unique fried creations with another Durham establishment, Worth It Cafe. Located at the corner of T.W. Alexander…

Subway Great Fair-A-Thon Challenge Clue #1

Blue Ribbon September 7 September 7

In 2008, the N.C. State Fair helped celebrate the 10th anniversary of Jared the Subway guy’s tremendous weight loss, and his former size 60 pants, with the Pants Dance Revolution. This year, Jared is taking his message of health and fitness all the way to New York to compete in the NYC Marathon, and he wants you to come cheer him on. All you have to do is help us “Celebrate What’s Great” about the State Fair by competing in the Great Fair-A-Thon Challenge, and you may be on your way to the Big Apple! Great Fair-A-Thon Challenge participants will first compete…

Artist Spotlight: Darius Rucker

Bearded Lady August 31 September 13

Seeing Darius Rucker on Saturday, Oct. 23, is going to be a like a homecoming. Growing up in South Carolina like I did, everyone knew Hootie and the Blowfish and its frontman. Everyone had a “Hootie” story – one of those stories that goes something like, “My cousin was roommates with the dogsitter of Hootie’s neighbor,” or “I bumped into Hootie in a mosh pit at a house party when I went to USC.” After meeting virtually everyone in South Carolina, except me, Darius Rucker dropped the “Hootie” name and transitioned to country music with 2008’s Learn to Live. Songs like “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” “History in the Making” and…

Artist Spotlight: Carolina Chocolate Drops

Bearded Lady August 27 September 13

When Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson formed the Carolina Chocolate Drops in 2005, there was no way of knowing the success their old-time string band would see in five short years. The trio began playing with fiddler Joe Thompson at his home in Mebane, and have since gone on to perform at huge music festivals like Bonnaroo and revered venues like the Grand Ole Opry (they will perform for a second time on Tuesday). CCD also has seen its latest album, Genuine Negro Jig, reach number one on the Billboard bluegrass chart and the band has even starred alongside Denzel Washington in 2007’s The Great Debaters. Here’s a look at the…

Tag: 2010 N.C. State Fair