contests

Weekend Update: Aug. 9-10

Funhouse August 7 August 7

Brides-to-be will find the fairgrounds the place to be on Saturday and Sunday as the Southern Bridal Show and Expo sets up in the Graham Building. Meet more than 150 Triangle-area wedding experts. Also enjoy wedding fashion previews featuring the latest trends in bridal wear. Event hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 per person. Children age 12 and under are admitted free. Pre-register and purchase tickets online to receive a $2 discount. Other events this weekend: The Raleigh Flea Market is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Each weekend, the Commercial and…

Tips from the expert

Jane Deere July 30 July 26

“If you can grow it, you can show it at the N.C. State Fair.” This motto sums up the State Fair’s horticulture competition, although there are some very specific rules you must follow. April Blazich, N.C. State Fair horticulture superintendent, offers her expertise on how to start growing good vegetables now in hopes of bringing home a prize in October. Categories For first-time exhibitors, it’s important to consider which category to enter. The hot peppers category is a longtime popular choice for exhibitors because peppers are easy to grow in North Carolina. To compensate for the influx of entries, the…

Everything’s coming up roses

Jane Deere July 27 July 25

In Harold White’s garden, everything is coming up roses. White has perfected the art of rose gardening, and he has a slew of blue ribbons to prove it. The Durham gardener, 84, began growing roses as a child and has entered his prize-winning flowers for the past 15 years at the N.C. State Fair. Despite his lifelong experience, winning at the fair hasn’t always been easy. “The first time I exhibited, I won precisely nothing. I had no idea what I was doing,” he said. Bringing home a ribbon takes more than just luck, especially with roses. The rose can…

Do you want to be our State Fair Street Team?

Bearded Lady September 19 September 19

For the past three years, we’ve selected one fair fanatic to serve as our Deep Fried Ambassador during the State Fair. These bloggers were amazing, and we thank them for adding a new perspective to the fair. This year, we’re opening up a few more spots. We realize not all of our fans are bloggers. Some are really active on Twitter and Facebook. Others create their own food reviews on YouTube. And others are using new sites, such as Pinterest to share their interests with friends. This year, we’re doing away with the Deep Fried Ambassador and introducing the State…

Decorated-cakes winners demonstrate contest’s diversity

Tilt-A-Whirl October 16 October 16

The decorated cakes contest has become famous among fairgoers for the diverse entries it attracts each year. You can read more about the work that goes into the cakes here. This year’s winners have proven to be no exception to that rule. Elizabeth Prioli of Chapel Hill took the top prize in the professional category for her Native American-themed cake complete with a drum, feathers and a moccasin, while the best-in-show winner in the non-professional category was a more traditional four-tiered white cake by Carol L. Deely of Cary. Mary Moseley of Whitakers rounded out the best-in-show winners, taking the…

Deep Fried Ambassador: Who Knew?

Firecracker October 22 October 22

This is a guest blogger post by our Official Deep Fried Ambassador, Ashlee. We’ll be reposting her State Fair adventures from her Miss Ashlee blog throughout the Fair. I Had No Idea! I can’t even begin to guess how many premiums there are… I just know the book is really big. I’m sure you’ve seen the giant pumpkins, the sheep, the photos, the quilts, and the pickles… but have you ever seen these exhibits?? Masonry (Apprentice Tent – Near the Poultry Tent) Fine Dining (Education/Commercial Building) Aprons (Education/Commercial Building) 4-H Entomology (Bug collection!) (Education/Commercial Building) Handspinning (Education/Commercial Building) Dried Herbs…

Fan-selected press office challenge: Let the games begin

Bearded Lady October 11 October 9

Last year, Firecracker issued a press office challenge for our staff to try something new at the Fair. We rose to the challenge and each of us did something we’d never done before at the Fair like visit the wildlife tent, tie tobacco, watch a pig race, sing a song and race down a giant slide. This year, we want your help. Do you have a favorite exhibit or competition we’ve never mentioned on the blog? Is there new food you’d like us to review before you come to the Fair? Do you want to make sure a certain ride…

Progress Photo: Saturday

Bearded Lady October 9 October 9

Premium Book entries are still rolling into the exhibit halls across the fairgrounds. Several departments began accepting pieces on Friday, including the art and photography department. Art entries will be accepted in the Kerr Scott Building until Sunday at 5 p.m. When complete, the exhibit will feature more than 2,500 pieces of work from school art classes, amateurs and professionals. In the Education Building, the display cases are filling up with canned goods for the food preservation contest, quilts are being dropped off and prepared for hanging, and clothing entries are being placed into position. You’ll be able to see…

Don’t miss your chance to win the Great Fair-A-Thon Challenge

Bearded Lady September 27 September 27

In case you missed the big announcement, we’re partnering with Subway during this year’s State Fair to offer a free trip for two to New York City. After Pants Dance Revolution and the $5 Footlong Song Challenge, we decided it was time to take things to another level. That’s why we recently announced the Great Fair-A-Thon Challenge. The contest has three stages of competition, but if you make it to the finish line you can win a two-day trip to New York City to watch Jared Fogle, the Subway guy, compete in the New York City Marathon. The first stage of the race, a…

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