Aerial acrobatics performances, living statues and Wild West shows will all be new to this year’s 147th NC State Fair, which opens for preview day Thursday at the NC State Fairgrounds and will be open until Oct. 26.
In addition to many other new rides, foods and attractions this year, a World War I 100th anniversary commemorative tell the compelling stories of soldiers, display war artifacts and exhibit a reconstructed trench section built by the NC National Guard for visitors to view in Dorton Arena.
Many visitors travel from all across the state to try the iconic foods served at the State Fair. Guests can expect to find new foods including deep-fried bananas Foster from the Ragin’ Cajun booth, deep-fried rice krispies treats from Chester’s Gators & Taters and deep-fried mini cupcakes from Chef’s D’Lites, according to the News & Observer.
“The food is a great experience,” Amanda Nguyen, a sophomore in business administration said. “I loved the food, which was mostly all fried. My favorite is the fried cheesecake and the corn.”
Evan Brooks, a sophomore in biology, said first-time guests should go around and try all the different types of food at the fair for the best experience.
“My favorite is definitely the fried Oreos, but the one thing I had last year that trumps everything has to be fried alligator,” Brooks said. “It tasted like chicken.”
Big-name artists will play alongside North Carolina-based bands of all musical genres in performances throughout the week in Dorton Arena. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and tickets for shows range anywhere from $5 to $17.
Vanilla Ice will kick off the music line-up Thursday. Other artists lined up to perform throughout the duration of the fair include country singers such as Clay Walker, Brandy Clark and Trace Adkins, Christian-music groups such as Newsboys and Tamela Mann, and comedians such as James Gregory.
China Anne McClain, a singer and the star of Disney Channel’s A.N.T. Farm, was added into the schedule last minute and is scheduled to perform Oct. 23. Rock-and-Roll icon Joan Jett and the Blackhearts will be the fair’s finale performance Oct. 26.
In celebration of 2014 being the Year of the Horse, the State Fair will kick off the festival with several horse shows and competitions Thursday through Saturday.
Alongside the new attractions are the traditional fair events such as the State Fair Ark, which features more than 60 different types of livestock animals found throughout North Carolina, livestock and agricultural shows and the annual folk festival, which will present an award to the group that best demonstrates North Carolina’s musical heritage.
One tradition for fairgoers is to stay the entire day until the fireworks are released at 9:45 p.m.
Sarah Alrifai, a freshman in the Poole College of Management said she will be staying at the fair until the fireworks.
“Last year when I came we spent the entire day going around the animal shows and carnival rides,” Alrifai said. “After watching the acrobatic performances, the fireworks were the perfect way to end that exhausting day.”
