Weekend Update: July 1-3

  Slithering, scaly pets will fill the Scott Building for the Repticon Reptile and Exotic Animal Show Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Scott Building. Admission is $10 for ages 13 and older, $5 for children 5 to 12, and free for children 4 and under. Two-day passes are $15. Snakes, iguanas, lizards and all the items needed to care for them will be on sale. Live animal presentations and seminars will be offered hourly. Other events this weekend include: The Capital City Gun Show is Saturday from 9…

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Weekend Update: Oct. 4-6

With the N.C. State Fair right around the corner, there will not be any outside events happening on the fairgrounds through October. The buildings and grounds are being prepped for the fair, which runs Oct 17-27. This weekend, the N.C. State Fair Horse Shows begin with the Hunter Jumper show. The State Fair Horse Shows are one of the largest all-breed shows in the country, requiring more than 11 days to get all the shows in. The shows are in the Hunt Horse Complex and start daily at 8 a.m. Spectator admission is free. Savings-minded fairgoers can purchase admission and…

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The August Early Bird gets the deal

State Fair tickets go on sale tomorrow and for those of you who buy early, you’ll have the best chance for good seats to a concert and get the added bonus of scoring free tickets to the fair. The August Early Bird Special runs only for the month of August and it allows ticket buyers to earn up to three free adult admission tickets based on the total purchase amount in a single order before convenience fees. Planning to spend between $60 and $120? You earn one free ticket. Purchases between $120.01 and $220 earn two free tickets, and purchases…

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Weekend Update: August 10-12

First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes a baby in a baby carriage. No matter what stage of life you are in, there’s something for you this weekend at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Whether it’s puppy love or the real deal, there’s nothing quite like spending time strolling through the Raleigh Flea Market with your special someone. You can spend a few minutes or a few hours browsing the vendor booths. The market is open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you’re preparing for a stroll down the aisle in the near future, then you…

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Weekend Update: Aug. 3-5

Looking for something to do this weekend? Come out to the fairgrounds and spend some time exploring the Raleigh Flea Market. The market is open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and features hundreds of vendors. You also can enjoy one of the these special events: Dixie Gun & Knife Classic Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the modern and collectible firearms, custom-made knives, hunting and fishing equipment, and more. The event will be held in the Graham Building Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults…

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Varsity Vocal Showcase kicks off Dorton Concerts

My first exposure to a cappella, like many people my age, was a little singing group named Rockapella on a PBS game show called Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Carmen Sandiego always managed to escape, but the theme song was forever stuck in my head thanks to the amazing vocals of Rockapella. Flash forward 20 years and shows like The Sing Off and Glee are exposing even more people to the fun and entertainment of a cappella. The first-ever Varsity Vocal Showcase presented by Mattress Firm is our way of highlighting some of the amazing voices here in…

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Advance tickets go on sale Aug. 1

The wait is almost over. Advance tickets for the 2012 N.C. State Fair go on sale Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. Buying early is the best way to save if you want to stretch your dollar as far as you can on admission, concerts, grandstand events, rides and more. And, if you’re looking for a front-row seat to one of the Dorton Arena concerts, you’re definitely going to want to be in front of a computer when tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. We want your ticket-buying experience to be as smooth as possible, so here are some…

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Top five blog posts of 2011

This year’s top blog posts included some expected favorites like our review of the latest deep-fried creation and a preview of the newest ride to hit the midway. But, the most surprising one to the make the list was also the most-viewed blog post of 2011. Scroll down to see if your favorite post made the list. 5. Deep Fried Triangle Tweetup: Bring your game face The Deep Fried Tweetup, a collaboration with our good friends at Triangle Tweetup, is a chance for all of our social media friends to come together for an exclusive event just for our favorite…

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Progress Photo: 5 days and counting

Today is a busy day at the fair, as we’re just five short days away from the start of the 2011 N.C. State Fair. Carnival workers are assembling some of the largest carnival rides, vendors are setting up food booths and cleaning off their grills, exhibitors are hanging signs, and moving furniture and superintendents are eagerly accepting jams, jellies, quilts, paintings and more. As if there isn’t enough happening inside the fairground gates, there also are thousands of Wolfack fans outside the gates tailgating before today’s game against Central Michigan. As a reminder, tailgaters can take advantage of the Gate…

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It’s the final countdown…

Cue Gob Bluth because you’re reading the final countdown blog post before the 2011 N.C. State Fair. That’s right, in just one month, we’ll open the gates and start the largest celebration in the state. Can’t wait another month? Here are five things you can do right now to join in the fun. 5. Share your State Fair memories: We’ve mentioned it a couple times on the blog (here and here), but the third times the charm. The State Library of North Carolina has created a new archive of State Fair premium books, photos and memorabilia from the state archives….

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