Progress Photo: 4-H Hay Bales

People continued to drop off entries today in Arts and Photography, and Family and Consumer Sciences. For most contests, fairgrounds staff are responsible for displaying all the entries. The 4-H Hay Bale Decorating Contest is an exception to that rule. Each year, a dozen or so 4-H groups participate in the competition, lining the grassy strip between the Scott Building and Kiddieland with an assortment of bright and creative hay bales. Today, Wilkes County 4-H came out to set up its display – a tribute to Dr. Seuss. Do you see the familiar hat? Stay tuned for more updates from…

Continue Reading

Progress Photo: Six Days Away

With more than 100 rides spread across the fairgrounds, it’s no wonder workers are already assembling some of your favorites. We expect to see even more rides go up this weekend. We’ll also see more entries being dropped off for the Arts and Photography, Handicrafts and Hobbies, and other competitions. We’ll be around, so look for more updates from the Deep Fried Crew on the blog, Facebook and Twitter. In the meantime, make sure to save time and money by purchasing your State Fair tickets in advance. You can buy your tickets online at www.ncstatefair.org or get them at nine…

Continue Reading

3 Days to Go and the Flower and Garden Show is in Full Bloom!

Three days out, and things are officially in full swing here at the fairgrounds. The Dixie Classic Fair ended Sunday, and many of the rides and vendors have come to our fair from that fair in the past 24 hours to setup shop. Though busy seems to be the dominant mood out here, there is one patch of tranquility among the commotion–the Flower and Garden Show. Visiting the Flower and Garden Show is like walking through the pages of a first-rate garden magazine. You’ll find more than 90 demonstrations, a few great photo-ops and some of the best gardening competitions…

Continue Reading

4 days and counting – ready for exhibits

Things remained busy on the fairgrounds Sunday as more vendors moved in and people dropped off competitive entries to be judged later this week. The Expo Center was all set up and ready for giant pumpkins, apples, bee products and animals to be delivered. Registration was strong across the board, so judging this week will be busy. The State Fair Ark display is located in the Expo Center. Several breeds of animals, such as cows, donkeys, sheep, pigs and horses are displayed in the Ark so that fairgoers always have a chance to see farm animals.

Continue Reading

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…

Continue Reading

Progress Photos: Sunday

Not a whole lot has changed since yesterday. We’ll see a big difference tomorrow morning because the Dixie Classic Fair in Winston-Salem ends this evening and lots of vendors and rides will make the short trip to Raleigh overnight and get set up. From our standpoint, the Press Office is now fully functional and we are looking forward to several events this week leading up to the gates opening on Thursday at 3 p.m. and the Deep Fried Triangle Tweetup at 7 p.m. Hope we’ll see you there!

Continue Reading