Your ultimate guide to the 2024 North Carolina State Fair

The 2024 North Carolina State Fair is a beloved annual tradition and offers something for everyone. From thrilling rides and delicious food to educational exhibits and live entertainment, there’s always something to enjoy.

The fair will be held October 17-27 at the State Fairgrounds, 4285 Trinity Road in Raleigh.

Here are some ways to help you get the most out of your experience, whether you’re a first-time or a seasoned trade show attendee:

Tickets and prices 🎟️

General admission:

• Adults (13-64): $10 in advance, $13 at checkout
• Children (6-12 years): $5 in advance, $7 at checkout
• Seniors (65+): $5 both in advance and at the door
• Children under 5 years: Free

Gates times:

• Thursday, October 17th: 12 p.m. – 11 p.m
• Friday, October 18th – Saturday, October 19th: 9:00 a.m. – midnight
• Sunday, October 20th – Thursday, October 24th: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m
• Friday, October 25th – Saturday, October 26th: 9:00 a.m. – midnight
• Sunday, October 27th: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m

What’s new at the North Carolina Fair? 🎡🎪🎠

The fair will introduce 72 new foods, including a variety of sweet and savory options. Here are some of the most notable new foods you should try:

• Acai & Dragon Fruit Bowl (Brazilian bowls): Açaí bowl with fresh fruits such as dragon fruit, bananas, strawberries and blueberries.
• Affogato (Magdalena’s chimney cake): A dessert in which a shot of espresso is poured over vanilla ice cream.
• Cake Parfaits (Cool Rynnings Jamaican): Red velvet, brandy almond and lemon meringue cake parfait served in a sealed jar.
• Carmel Apple Mini Cakes (Hot Chix Hotcakes and Chicken): Mini pancakes with apple pieces, caramel sauce and whipped cream.
• Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Iced Tea (Tiki Tea): Freshly brewed strawberry-flavored iced tea infused with Hershey’s chocolate syrup and garnished with three hand-dipped chocolate strawberries.
• Cotton Candy Mini Cakes (Hot Chix Hotcakes and Chicken: Mini pancakes with whipped cream, cotton candy syrup and topping.
• Fried hazelnut croissant (Lafarm bakery): Mini layered dough, deep fried and drizzled with hazelnut topping.
• Peach Cobbler Pizza Cones (Kono Pizza): It consists of a warm pizza cone filled with peach filling, topped with cinnamon crumbs and icing.
• Simba Dessert (Safari Eats): Deep fried viapati stuffed with sweet apple filling, topped with vanilla ice cream, drizzled with old fashioned caramel sauce.
• Waffle sticks with strawberries and cream (Waffle Chix): Strawberry shortcrust cookie dough baked in a Belgian waffle covered with whipped cream and strawberry sauce. Served on a stick.
• Strawberry Lemonade Donut (Fluffy’s Hand-Cut Donuts): A fluffy donut with tangy lemon glaze, strawberry lemonade sprinkles, topped with a freeze-dried strawberry slice and gummy candies.
• Sweet Cheesecake (Mediterranean Grill): Pancake filled with cheese, deep fried and dipped in a sweet syrup. Served hot with pistachios and chocolate syrup.
• Large Cheese-Wrapped Bacon on a Stick (Bubba’s Bacon): This is bacon and cheese on a skewer, fried to perfection.

In addition to these new foods, the NC State Fair will also introduce a variety of new food trucks and vendors.

New floor entertainment

• Birdman World Class Bird Show: Experience a spectacular display of bird acrobatics with parrots, owls and falcons. Learn about their natural habitats and conservation efforts while enjoying their incredible tricks.
• Agri-Cadabra: The Magic of Agriculture: Discover the fascinating connection between healthy eating and agriculture, with a focus on local agricultural practices.
• Brad Comedy Hypnosis Show: Join Brad Matchett for a hilarious and family-friendly hypnosis show. Watch volunteers experience unforgettable moments under his hypnotic spell.
• Casey’s Clubhouse: Meet Casey Cardinal, Kiddieland’s friendly mascot, and receive a commemorative pin.
• Ember fire art: Be mesmerized by the fiery performances of Ember Fire Arts, a local artist who shares the secrets behind her captivating performances.
• Fire protection show: Learn more about fire safety at the NC Department of Insurance Office of the State Fire Marshal. Enjoy interactive demonstrations, puppet shows and magic tricks that teach children and families about fire safety.
• Heritage Circle Bluegrass & Folk Stage: Experience North Carolina’s rich musical heritage with stirring bluegrass and folk performances.
• Hog Diggity Dogs and more!: Enjoy a fast-paced, family-friendly show full of laughter, audience participation and surprises.
• The Live and Local Waterfall Music Stage: Discover your new favorite band with a diverse cast of local talent.
• Melody Farm Follies: Experience an entertaining animatronic theater show with Rocky Broccoli and his vegetable friends. Sing, dance and learn about the importance of healthy eating.
• Rock-It the Robot: Get to know this giant, friendly robot and experience his interactive light show.
• Southland Dairy Farmers Mobile Milking Classroom: Learn about the dairy farming process, from milking a cow to how the milk travels to your table.

Special event days

• NC State (Wolfpack) Day: Thursday, October 17th
• Accessibility Day: Sunday, October 20th
• Senior Day: Tuesday, October 22nd
• Military Day of Honor: Wednesday, October 23rd
• Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day: Thursday, October 24th

NC State Fair Bag Guidelines

There will be two security checkpoints at each gate. Trade show attendees who bring a clear bag will go through a much quicker inspection, while those with an opaque bag will have to go through the bag search line. Guests are advised to use a clear bag. There is no size limit for the clear bag used.

Parking at the NC State Fair: Where to Park for Free

Free parking is available at the State Fair, Carter-Finley Football Stadium and Lenovo Center properties. Fair attendees are asked to take Wade Avenue to Edwards Mill Extension to park in these lots. Pay attention to the officers directing traffic.

There may be exceptions when events are scheduled at Carter-Finley or PNC Arena. PNC Arena Parking will be reserved as reserved/paid parking on the following dates:

• Saturday, October 19th
• Friday, October 25th
• Saturday, October 26th

Recreational vehicles are not permitted to remain in parking lots managed by the NC State Fair between midnight and 8 a.m

Shuttle options near the trade fair

Free shuttles run continuously and take you to the exhibition center.

Dogwood plot: The NC State Fair offers free off-site parking at the corner of Edwards Mill and Reedy Creek (4501 Reedy Creek Road) with free shuttles that drop you off directly across from Gate 8 on Trinity Road. The shuttles run continuously. Drop-off and pickup will be across Trinity Road at Gate 8 on the street side of Carter-Finley Stadium. There will be a covered waiting area, portable toilets and drinks vending machines.

Dogwood Parking Hours: Thursday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m. to one hour after admission closes; and Friday, Oct. 18 – Sunday, Oct. 27: 9 a.m. to one hour after closing time.

Cardinal ticket: The NC State Fair also offers free off-site parking at NC Highway 54/Chapel Hill Road (5766 Chapel Hill Road), just past I-40, Exit 290, with free shuttles to Gate 7 on Youth Center Drive. Pick up will be at the same location. The shuttles run continuously. On-site amenities include a covered waiting area, portable restrooms, and vending machines.

Cardinal lottery hours: Thursday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m. to one hour after admission closes; and Friday, Oct. 18 – Sunday, Oct. 27: 9 a.m. to one hour after closing time.

Visit WRAL at the trade fair

Visit WRAL while you’re at the North Carolina State Fair! We are at our usual location, right next to Dorton Arena.

State Fair Cares launches fundraiser for Hurricane Helene relief efforts

The NC State Fair has added a donation tab to its website, allowing fairgoers to support disaster relief efforts in Western North Carolina when purchasing tickets. All donations go to the MANNA FoodBank, which lost its warehouse due to Hurricane Helene.

When purchasing tickets, the framed “State Fair Cares” link will appear on the shopping cart page prior to checkout.

People can also donate by visiting the NC State Fair website.