From afar, you can see the sparkle of the ferris wheel’s lights, creating a colorful glow in the night. As you draw near, amidst the crowds of people filled with excitement, the sound of laughter and music fills the air. Once inside, the delightful scent of funnel cake and fried food finally gives it away — the North Carolina State Fair is here.

From enjoying live music at the Waterfall stage to experiencing milking a cow at the Agriculture Supply Exposition Center or watching a goat show and admiring the arts and crafts at the Village of Yesteryear, the State Fair has made its return to Raleigh with plenty of attractions and new activities.

With so much to see and do, navigating the State Fair can be challenging and overwhelming. Here’s the ultimate guide to the NC State Fair with must-see attractions and a ranking of the amusement rides.

Village of Yesteryear

The Village of Yesteryear is one of the State Fair’s oldest and most popular attractions, featuring artisans displaying their handmade crafts.

The purpose of the exhibit is to educate the public on traditional crafts.

“We’re here to educate people,” said Sonny Gibson, an ornamental woodturner who has been part of the State Fair’s Village of Yesteryear for six years. “That’s what this is all about, is education for the public, and we explain our work as best that we can in this environment.”

By presenting their handmade crafts, the artists are preserving art from the past for future generations.

“Our sole purpose for being here is so that people can see … how people used to create things for themselves because they didn’t have a Walmart down the street,” said Lena Ennis, who has been part of the State Fair’s Village of Yesteryear for 19 years.

Agriculture

From purchasing local products and watching cooking demonstrations at the Got to Be NC Pavilion’s exhibit to milking a cow at the Animal Science Club at NC State’s “Milk Booth” at the Agriculture Supply Exposition Center, agriculture is a very prominent theme of the State Fair.

Sam Brake, program specialist for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, said besides the fun and games, the State Fair is about educating people on the value of agriculture by showcasing agrarian goods and livestock.

“Here [at the exhibit] we just have on display some of the typical farm animals [and plants] that we grow here in North Carolina and some that are not so typical.” Brake said.

Both the State Fair Ark and Got to Be NC Pavilion’s promotes agriculture, with the ark featuring diverse production of livestock on display and the Pavilion offering a wide variety of products from agrarian vendors.

Emily McNeill, NC State alum, said it’s important to incorporate agriculture into the State Fair.

“The NC State Fair, I feel like, it’s representing the state as a whole and the state has a lot to offer,” McNeill said. “I think a lot of people don’t know about agriculture, the history behind it and how it works, so I think it’s awesome that different businesses and people can really showcase what they do.”

Rides

Although education has always been a huge part of the NC State Fair, let’s not forget about the rides and games that will be making a comeback to the fair this year. From the must-try amusement rides to the ones that have become a little overrated — here’s my ranking.

First place — Cliff Hanger

If you wanted to fly as a kid, this is the ride for you. Meant to simulate hang gliding, the Cliff Hanger will literally lift you into the air at high speed, taking you on a fun aerial adventure.

Second place — Zero Gravity

In this ride you’re basically just spinning at high speed. Although the explanation might sound kind of average, this is a trust and try it yourself situation. The best time to go is at night, as the bright colorful lights of the ride makes the spinning a more fun and enjoyable experience.

Third place — Ferris Wheel

Although being a fair classic and providing great views of the surrounding area, the ferris wheel has become a little overrated. For this reason, it lands at number three on our ranking. If you’re thinking of going, however, there are four ferris wheels to choose from –– the Catawba Two Kings Casino SkyGazer being the biggest one of all.