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New opening time, parking and entrance options among changes for NC State Fair



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RALEIGH — The N.C. State Fair is busy gearing up to welcome new grounds entertainment, new competitions and a new special event at the N.C. Public House, a news release says. Fairgoers may also notice the addition of a new entry gate off Youth Center Road, a new parking lot option and additional ticket buying kiosks near the gates.

“We’re always evaluating our entertainment lineup and our operations to give fairgoers new things to look forward to each year while also improving their overall experience,” said fair manager Kent Yelverton in a statement. “This year the gates will open at 9 a.m. except for a noon opening on Oct. 13. The 9 a.m. start aligns with the opening of the exhibition halls, so fairgoers can dive right into some of the fair offerings as soon as they enter the gates.”



New parking lot and new entry gate

A new parking option this year is the recently developed Cardinal lot, a gravel lot at Hwy. 54/Chapel Hill Road, that offers fairgoers free shuttle service to a newly opened Gate 7 on the West side of the fairgrounds. The Cardinal lot adds to the existing park-and-ride option at the Dogwood lot near the intersection of Reedy Creek Road and Edwards Mill Road. Guests parking in the Dogwood lot are dropped off near Gate 9.

“Gate 7 brings fairgoers onto the grounds near the giant talking Smokey Bear and the N.C. Forest Service and Soil and Water Conservation exhibits. Adding a gate will help open up a developing part of the fairgrounds and provide ease of access for those parking in the Cardinal lot,” Yelverton said.

Updated special cooking competitions and entry categories

The Home Chef Challenge features a special cooking contest every day, with bragging rights and prizes up for grabs for winners. The challenge has created some social media buzz, with categories including loaded nachos, ultimate brownies, spirited pies, quirky cobbler, a make-ahead breakfast, a bacontastic fair food, chili, grain bowls, sirloin salad and chicken casserole. Oct. 3 is the deadline to register to compete. The full lineup is:

Oct. 13 – 4 p.m.: Loaded Nachos Challenge presented by NC State Basketball’s Primetime with the Pack

Oct. 14, 10 a.m.: Brownie Showdown presented by Humana

Oct. 15, 10 a.m.: Spirited Pie Challenge presented by the Distillers Association of North Carolina

Oct. 16, 2 p.m.: Great Bowls of Fire Chili Cook-Off presented by Carolina Cooker

Oct. 17, 10 a.m.: Morning Mayhem Buster: Make-Ahead Breakfast Challenge presented by Superior Sleep Experience

Oct. 18, 11 a.m.: Brain Food Healthy Grain Bowl Challenge presented by Wegmans

Oct. 19, 10 a.m. Tip Top Sirloin Salad Challenge

Oct. 20, 10 a.m.: Bacontastic Fair Food Challenge with junior and adult divisions presented by the NC Pork Council

Oct. 21, 10 a.m.: Not Your Mama’s Chicken Casserole Challenge presented by House of Raeford

Oct. 22, 10 a.m.: Duke Cancer Care in Wake County Celebrates Cancer Warriors Challenge presented by Duke Raleigh Hospital

Oct. 23, 10 a.m.: Quirky Cobbler Challenge

Ink-pen decorated seashells and artwork inspired floral arrangements are two new categories offered this year. The popular decorated Christmas tree category returns this year following its 2021 debut and will be displayed in the north lobby of Dorton Arena as visitors enter the Got to Be NC Agriculture Pavilion. Competition entries will be on display in the Commercial, Education and Scott buildings as well as in the Agri Supply Exposition Center. Find out more at www.ncstatefair.org by clicking on the competitions tab.

New grounds entertainment

Straw sculptor Brian Sobaski was set to make his State Fair debut in 2021, but that plan was just delayed a year. Sobaski has created all manner of whimsical creatures, including bears, giraffes, bulls, bunnies, pirates and birds. People can see Sobaski’s giant-sized straw creations take shape outside the Agri Supply Exposition Center daily.

Also new is the Hog Diggity Dogs & More show, featuring hogs and dogs in a high-energy show near Gate 10. Dogs of all sizes perform tricks and showcase their agility.

Finally, new performer Ember Fire Arts will put on two shows nightly at 9 and 10 p.m. in Heritage Circle. The mesmerizing show features performers dancing around flaming hoops, doing twirls and balances with flaming batons and breathing fire into the night air.

New rides

Midway provider Powers Great American Midways will bring five new rides to the N.C. State Fair. AirMaxx should get thrill seekers’ hearts pumping as it spins two armloads of eight riders up, down and around. Other new thrilling spectacular rides include Wave Swinger 2, Techno Jump and WipeOut. The new Crazy Cabs ride is geared for the kids, with bright yellow mini taxi cabs spinning and twirling on a tilted track.

New educational opportunities:

At the NC Public House Friday, Oct. 14:

Marking its second year in the South Lobby of Dorton Arena, the N.C. Public House returns with dozens of breweries, wineries, cideries and craft soda makers from across North Carolina for fairgoers 21 and up to sample. Craft beer aficionados will want to plan to attend Friday, Oct. 14, from 5 to 8 p.m., for N.C. Beer Night at the Fair. Offerings include an “Ask a Brewer” question-and-answer session and a brewing equipment demonstration provided by Atlantic Brew Supply. Reps from Wake Tech’s brewing education program and Raleigh’s local homebrew club CARBOY will be on hand.

New N.C. Forest Service educational programming:

The N.C. Forest Service has a new line-up of educational opportunities in the State Fair Conservation Forest, just up the hill from Heritage Circle, where visitors will find all new “campfire round” on the pond’s edge to learn more about one of North Carolina’s forests.

Heritage Circle Cider House:

Learn about apple cider pressing at the Heritage Circle Cider House in Heritage Circle, led by fifth-generation apple farmers from Hendersonville. Bright Branch Farms grows and produces over 100 acres of apples and also presses fresh cider at the farm. See cider pressing demonstrations daily at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m, and try a cup of farm fresh cider.

The State Fair is Oct. 13-23 at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. For more information, visit ncstatefair.org or connect on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram @ncstatefair.