Tag: Got to Be NC Festival

Fairgrounds crew builds new skillet skee-ball game for GTBNC Festival

Skee-ball, skillets and fabricated fried eggs will combine for a fun new competition at this year’s Got to Be NC Festival. So, which came first, the skillet or the egg? Carolina Cooker and parent company Agri Supply, have long supported agriculture in this state, so when the State Fair team challenged themselves to dream up several new free activities for the Got to Be NC Festival’s Agri-Plaza in the Graham Building, the team dreamt up Skillet Skee-Ball, and Carolina Cooker jumped on board. Carolina Cooker is based in North Carolina and offers a variety of cookware from traditional cast iron…

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New fairgrounds police chief settling in just in time for GTBNC festival

The N.C. State Fair has a new police chief who’s just getting settled into the job in time for the Got to Be NC Festival. Anthony “Tony” Prignano started on April 25. Technically, his job title is Public Safety and Security Chief, and it’s a shift from his decades of work in the Durham County Sheriff’s Office. “When I retired from the sheriff’s office in March at age 53, I didn’t want to just quit working,” Prignano said. “I’ve been in in law enforcement for nearly 30 years. It’s not just something that leaves your blood. When it comes to…

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N.C. wine and so much more at the GTBNC Festival

The Got to Be NC Festival brings lots of the things you love about the N.C. State Fair, such as rides and fair food favorites. There are also unique elements like the entertainment lineup, the daily tractor parades and the vendors who choose to participate each year. One thing that the GTBNC Festival offers that’s a bit different than the State Fair is the Food Lion Local Goodness Marketplace. It’s a bit like the Got to Be NC Pavilion during the fair, but not exactly. At the this year’s festival, there are about 74 vendors, and all of them will have…

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Youthful bluegrass band One Fret Over takes the bluegrass stage

A meeting at summer camp has led to success for a pair of siblings from Salisbury and Kernersville. Their band, One Fret Over, will perform at the N.C. State Fair in Heritage Circle on Saturday, Oct. 19. Based out of central North Carolina, One Fret Over is comprised of two sets of siblings; Gabe Bemus (guitar and vocals), Grace Bemus (fiddle and vocals), Elijah Moore (mandolin) and Lincoln Moore (bass). The band members met at youth bluegrass camp in 2016. They formed One Fret Over in early 2017 and have filled their schedule performing at local venues and festivals ever…

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Carolina Bluegrass Battle winners The Hey Brothers will play the NC State Fair

The Hey Brothers’ trip to the N.C. State Fair started this spring. The Pittsboro-based group was the winner of the the Carolina Bluegrass Battle at the annual Got to Be N.C. Festival. The band earned $500 and spots at the N.C. State Fair and PreddyFest. John Dudley (banjo), Allen Ray (guitar), Keith Sikes (bass), Tim Lee (mandolin) and Brian English (fiddle) formed the group in 2007. The band’s name came from old advertisements that Lee found online. Band members saw the ad and the name just stuck. The group plays mostly local and regional events, including festivals and private functions. “Everyone…

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NC State Fair youth scholarship recipients honored at Got to Be NC Festival

Following is a guest post from Marisa Linton. Marisa grew up showing and raising livestock, and currently lives on her family’s small farm in Mount Olive. She has shown animals at the N.C. State Fair for the past 14 years and is a past youth livestock scholarship recipient. She is an N.C. State University graduate, agricultural photographer and blogger. Youth who show livestock at the N.C. State Fair are a hardworking, responsible and dedicated group. They stay busy working with their animals and taking care of them. While these youth are focused on their livestock and showing, they are also…

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Weekend Update: The Got to Be NC Festival celebrates 10 years!

It’s a celebration of food and agriculture at the 10th annual Got to Be N.C. Festival.  Come enjoy a mix of food, fun, music, carnival rides, tractors and more. Gate admission is free. Highlights include: Homegrown Fare presented by Lowes Foods, in the Exposition Center. Nearly 100 North Carolina companies will be sampling and selling their products. Admission is $3 for ages 12 or older, but visitors can show their Lowes Foods loyalty card and receive two free admissions at the door. 9th Annual Masonic Carolina Pig Jig BBQ Cook-off will be Saturday beside the Exposition Center. Enjoy barbecue from…

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Weekend Update: May 20-22

It’s a celebration of food and agriculture at the ninth annual Got to Be N.C. Festival.  Come enjoy a mix of food, fun, music, carnival rides, tractors and more. Gate admission is free. Highlights include: Homegrown Fare, sponsored by Lowes Foods, will be in the Exposition Center. Nearly 100 North Carolina companies will be sampling and selling their products. 8th annual Masonic Carolina Pig Jig BBQ Cook-off will be Saturday beside the Expo Center. Enjoy barbecue from 40 Masonic Lodges. Tickets are $15 for ages 12 and over, $5 for ages 7-11, and free for ages 6 and under. Barbecue…

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Casey’s top reason’s to head out the the Got to be NC Festival

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The official start of the 2016 N.C. State Fair is still 148 days away, but this weekend you can catch a fair vibe at the Got to Be NC Festival. Last year Casey Cardinal made his debut, check out what he’s looking forward to at this year’s festival. The Got to Be NC Festival opens Friday and runs through Sunday. Gate admission and parking is free. 1. Casey’s Big Ticket weekend: Check out the ticket booth near the waterfall to purchase $5 tickets to the N.C. State Fair. This is the absolute lowest price they are available for adult admission….

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Weekend Update: May 9-11

It’s Mothers’ Day weekend, so come out to the Raleigh Flea Market to find a one-of-a-kind treasure for your mom. Some Shaw University students will give mom an early present when they walk across the stage in Dorton Arena Saturday morning and receive their degrees. Dorton Arena will host the Shaw University commencement exercises at 11 a.m. with featured speaker Madame Gloria Bongi Ngema-Zuma, First Lady of the Republic of South Africa. Tickets are not required for admittance, and seating is first-come, first-seated. Doors open at 9 a.m. Also this weekend: N.C. Plantation Pleasure Walking Horse Tarheel Classic is Friday and…

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