Brian Sobaski brings straw to life in front of your eyes

Brian Sobaski is bringing some unique art to the N.C. State Fair in 2022 – something you’ve probably never seen. He’s creating straw sculptures of animals, and you can watch him at work three times a day during the fair. You’ll find him beside the breezeway outside the Agri Supply Expo Center. This is the first time Sobaski has ever created his works of art while an audience is watching. He usually creates straw sculptures before an event and leaves them to be viewed after he’s gone. While he’s a bit shy naturally, he’ll happily answer questions as he works…

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Lumberjack Competition showcases talent, promotes environmental stewardship

The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show returns to the State Fair this year with displays that will leave you buzzing from excitement. A 6-man team of professional lumberjacks will chop, saw and roll their way through this highly competitive performance. This year, the show is bringing a new canine competitor to North Carolina: Gracie, the log rolling dog. Gracie is about a year old, and she’s the only silver Labrador log-rolling dog currently performing in lumberjack competitions. She’ll try to stay afloat as the logs do their best to spin her into the water. The Lumberjack Show features events like springboard…

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10 fun things you can do during your visit to the fair

Here at Deep Fried, we know a thing or two about the N.C. State Fair. Our staff has more than 50 years’ experience with this annual event, so if you’re looking for directions to help you maneuver all 200 acres of the fairgrounds or the best places to eat, we can point you in the right direction. But, before you head out to try the latest deep-fried culinary delights at the fair, here are a few things you can do to build up an appetite: Visit the State Fair Ark. This is the best place to see North Carolina’s diverse…

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It pays to be a professional showoff

Did your mom every tell you to stop showing off? Chances are Arthur Fratelli heard the same thing from his mom. Good thing he never listened because if he had, we may not have been lucky enough to have this professional showoff come to the N.C. State Fair. Fratelli is one of the amazing grounds acts that will make this year’s State Fair one to remember. Since this is Arthur’s first time performing at the N.C. State Fair, we decided to take some time to learn a little more about him and his act. And, what better way to learn…

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Artist Spotlight: Casting Crowns

I recently heard the name Casting Crowns for the first time. Obviously, there are many more people that have heard of the headlining act at Dorton Arena Friday, Oct. 15. After two weeks of advance sales, the concert for the Atlanta-based group has sold more than 1,800 tickets and is on its way to being our first sold-out show of 2010. I decided to see what all the excitement was about, but I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought I might hear something similar to old gospel tunes from my grandparents’ radio, but after listening to the artist’s songs on our 2010 N.C. State Fair Pandora station, I understand…

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2010 Dorton Arena concert lineup

Firecracker, Flying Bob and Sweet Corn met to plan this year’s Dorton Arena concert-lineup announcement. Check out the video below to see who is coming to the 2010 N.C. State Fair: NOTE: If video doesn’t play, try refreshing your browser. You probably noticed that seven of our concerts are only $5. Make sure to buy your tickets early to get the best seats. Tickets go on sale Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. We’re sure you also noticed there are some artists we can’t announce for a few more weeks. Once we’re able, we will post the remaining concerts on our website, on the…

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