Dazzling lights and spectacular heights: State Fair SkyGazer promises to be a crowd pleaser.

Bigger and better – this year the N.C. State Fair is delivering on that promise. Fairgoers will see the fair’s newest addition, the State Fair SkyGazer, as they approach the fairgrounds – as it stands more than 60 feet taller than Dorton Arena. The SkyGazer is North America’s largest traveling Ferris wheel. “North Carolinians who visit the State Fair every year have their traditions, but we never stop trying to “wow” you. We’ve been working to bring this Ferris wheel to Raleigh since it debuted in Florida in 2017,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “ It’s not often we get…

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Make your trip to the fair a love a-fair

Funhouse and I collaborated on what would be the perfect fair date. We’ve come up with five things you must do on a date at the N.C. State Fair. Start your visit with a stroll through the Flower Show. The Flower Show is a beautiful oasis at the fairgrounds. You and your date can come take a stroll through the winding paths of gardens and get your photo taken on the giant Adirondack chair built for two. If you wait until dark, the Flower Show is lit up with luminaries, adding a little romance to the air. The Flower and Garden Show is…

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Squeals, Thrills and Ferris Wheels

Each year, a member of the Deep Fried Crew gets the opportunity to help out in the press office at the N.C. Mountain State Fair. This year, it’s my turn. Like the State Fair in Raleigh, the Mountain Fair has a load of agricultural exhibits, competitions, rides and entertainment for the whole family. This year’s theme is “Squeals, Thrills and Ferris Wheels,” and fairgoers will find all of it in Fletcher. Despite the similarities, the Mountain Fair has some things you won’t find at the State Fair. For instance, next week there will be a rodeo with riders from the…

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Sky Diver is a whirlwind of fun

At first glance, the Sky Diver looks like a plain Ferris wheel. But when you get up close, you realize there is a lot more to this ride than meets the eye. The Sky Diver is based on a Ferris wheel design, but passengers sit in cages similar to the Zipper. The cages are mounted on an axle that allows the cars to spin like a barrel roll. The best part? There’s a wheel in the cage so you, or your co-pilot, can control how fast you spin. To see this technique in action, check out the video below. (My…

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Ferris wheel photo winner

Congratulations to Lindsay Dean who submitted her entry for our Ferris Wheel Day photo contest through Twitter, and is the winner of a prize pack including two State Fair T-shirts. Lindsay shot this double exposure photo with her Lomography Diana F+ camera during the 2009 N.C. State Fair. We’ll have more contests and promotions as we ramp up for the 2011 N.C. State Fair, so stay tuned to the Deep Fried @ The N.C. State Fair blog, our Facebook fan page and Twitter for the latest information.

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Happy Valentine’s/Ferris Wheel Day!

Not only is today Valentine’s Day, one of the most romantic days of the year, but it’s also a day to celebrate one of the most popular rides at the Fair: the Ferris wheel! On this day in 1859, American engineer and inventor George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. was born. Ferris is famous for creating the original Ferris wheel for the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition. What better way to celebrate a day of love and carnival rides than a deep-fried photo contest? Show us your love of Ferris wheels by submitting a Ferris wheel photo to the N.C. State Fair’s fan page, tagging your…

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Deep Fried Ambassador: Deep fried ride edition

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. You Spin Me Right Round I’m a wuss.I’ll admit it. I was 8 the first time we went to Disneyland and was scared out of my mind by something as simple as the teacups. My little sister, on the other hand, was fearless and on our trip to Knott’s Berry Farm rode Montazuma’s revenge with nothing but sheer joy. Crazy. I don’t think I rode a roller coaster until I was nearly…

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