10 Reasons Why I am Thankful for Showing Livestock

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 14 years and is a past youth livestock scholarship recipient. She is an N.C. State University graduate, agricultural photographer and blogger. During this holiday season, we tend to reminisce about all there is to be thankful for. I decided to ask livestock folks, who are some of my favorite people, why they are thankful for livestock shows, especially those at the N.C. State Fair….

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Weekend Update: Christmas Carousel returns to Graham, Fair deals return for Cyber Monday

Looking for a different shopping experience for Black Friday? Check out the Fairgrounds. Where you will find parking and one-of-a-kind gifts. The Christmas Carousel Holiday Gift Market is Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Graham Building. Admission covers all three days and is $8 for adults, $7 for senior and members of the military with ID and $4 for children ages 6 to 12. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free. This event features over 250 exhibitors offering crafts, jewelry, art, pottery and food.   The…

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Weekend Update: Nov. 27-29

Weekend shopping at the N.C. State Fairgrounds offers a great alternative to the mall. It’s also a great place to take your out-of-town guests to walk off the turkey and pies. Celebrating it’s 45th year at the fairgrounds is the Raleigh Flea Market, one of the largest flea markets in the state. The market features hundreds of vendors in the Commercial and Education buildings and outside grounds. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Also this weekend is the popular Christmas Carousel Holiday Gift Market. Gifts for people of all ages will be for sale, including…

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3 Inspiring Blue-Ribbon Recipes for Thanksgiving

If you’re still searching for some great recipes to try this Thanksgiving, look no further than the award-winning dishes from the 2012 N.C. State Fair Special Cooking Contest. This year’s entries covered a variety of foods, from Peanut Butter Bacon Sliders to Chai Latte Pie. We recommend trying all the winning entries, but the following are our top picks for Thanksgiving Day. 1. Sweet Potato Salad Kathryn Jackson of Benson won a blue ribbon for her Sweet Potato Salad in the Anything But Ordinary! Sweet Potato Recipe Contest at the N.C. State Fair. The contest, sponsored by the N.C. SweetPotato…

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‘Black Friday’ at the Fairgrounds

The State Fairgrounds will offer several events on “Black Friday” to accommodate holiday shoppers, and you won’t even have to wake up too early! The Raleigh Flea Market will open a day early, and operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 26, for shoppers looking to buy locally made, unique and antique items. Do you have a left-handed friend on your gift list this year? Then check out one of the newest market vendors, That’s Not Right, located in the Commercial Building, for unusual and fun gifts just for lefties. The Raleigh Flea Market offers everything from gourmet spices to golf…

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