Exhibit Links

A new exhibit where visitors can go on a fun and interactive career personality scavenger hunt to learn about the wide variety of jobs in the agricultural industry.

Interact with organizations to learn about the wide variety of career paths in the agricultural industry. Agriculture is about more than just farmers - science, math, acting, writing, construction, nutrition, gardening and other areas of interest all play vital roles in our state’s number one industry: agriculture.

Speak with representatives from community colleges, N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, high school career development counselors and more. Lots of hands on activities for all ages can be found here. Located near Gate 12 and open daily from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. except on Thursday, Oct. 11 when the exhibit will open at 4 p.m.

Children are invited to spend some time on the fair’s miniature farm to learn more about the connection between the farm and the dinner table.

Features of this exhibit include a resting area for parents, a greenhouse, aquaculture display and container gardening information. And don't forget to stop by the photo op site just outside of the exhibit for a great fall family photo.

Presented by the Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and the NCDA&CS, this exhibit includes a coloring contest, storytelling center and a photo area where families can take a snapshot from their day at the “farm.”

Located near Gate 1 and Dorton Arena. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., except on Thursday, Oct. 11 when the exhibit will open at 4 p.m.

This oasis on the fairgrounds features winding pathways through beautiful gardens grown by local organizations.

More than 90 demonstrations will be held throughout the fair, with experts offering advice on such topics as pumpkin carving, flower arranging and proper plant care. Climb on the giant Adirondack chair, or pose with the Barrel Monster family for a unique photo op.

The Flower & Garden Show competitions feature cut perennial and annual flowers, scented herbs and potted plants. The colorful arrangements inside and the themed gardens outside are intended to be both educational and artistic. The Flower Show often inspires amateur gardeners to green their thumbs by planting their own personal gardens.

Contact us for more information about how you can volunteer in the Flower & Garden Show.

Opportunities are available for pre-fair planting and preparations and fair workers.

The Flower Show is located near the Village of Yesteryear and Heritage Circle.

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., except Oct. 11 when the exhibit will open at 4 p.m.

Up the hill from Heritage Circle, be sure to check out the 21-foot-tall Smokey Bear display and learn about trees and how to prevent forest fires.

Fairgoers can even pick up a free seedling to take home and plant in their yards. Forest rangers will be passing out Loblolly Pines and Atlantic White Cedars.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s State Fair exhibit, located north of the Village of Yesteryear, will feature exhibits in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration programs. Learn how sportsmen and women play an essential role in the conservation of North Carolina's wildlife resources.

The state fair button, which the agency has given away each year since 1981, will feature a smallmouth bass.

Throughout the duration of the fair, visitors of all ages can take a shot at the air rifle range and learn about firearms safety from Wildlife Enforcement Officers. Featured this year are the Sensory Safari, Mobile Aquarium and outdoor recreation for families.

The exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily, except on Thursday, Oct. 11, when the exhibit will open at 4 p.m.

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., except on Thursday, Oct. 11 when the exhibit will open at 4 p.m.

Exhibitors

Thursday, Oct. 11 - Tuesday, Oct. 16

Nature’s Pearl Corporation, Advance
Muscadine Grape Seed Supplement, Muscadine Juice, Personal Skin Care Products

Queen Bee Honey Farm, Statesville
Sourwood Honey

Baldies BBQ, Raleigh
BBQ Sauce

Carolina Packers, Inc., Smithfield
Sausages, Hot Dogs

JRod’s Backyard Grill, Morrisville
BBQ Sauce

Mackey’s Ferry Peanuts, Jamesville
Peanuts, Peanut Butter, Boiled Peanuts, Raw Peanuts

Barb’s of Goldsboro
Sweet Potato Butter

Harvest Time Foods, Ayden
Dumplings and Chicken Base

Lumpy’s Ice Cream, Wake Forest
Ice Cream

Wednesday, Oct. 17-Sunday, Oct. 21

Origin Food Group, Statesville
Frush – fruit and yogurt shake

Sweet Nuttins’, Zebulon
Coated Peanut

Home Industries, Mebane
Zing Sauce

Pepsi Bottling Ventures, Raleigh
Pepsi NEXT

Big Country Gourmet, Raleigh
BBQ Sauce

Jena’s BBQ and Catering, Garner
BBQ Sauce

House – Autry Mills, Four Oaks
Breaders, Mixes, Sauces, Mustard

The Q Shack, Raleigh
BBQ

Lumpy’s Ice Cream, Wake Forest
Ice Cream

Don't let the relaxed atmosphere of the Heritage Circle fool you, the nook near the Flower Show has some of the most hard-working people at the N.C. State Fair. There is plenty of activity at the circle, from the crew maintaining the tobacco barn during the fair to the craftsmen demonstrating their traditional methods of woodcarving, blacksmithing and chair-building. Visitors can also enjoy the taste of homemade ice cream, apple cider or a hush puppy from the Old Grist Mill as they listen to engaging stories or the sweet melodies from the Bluegrass Stage.

The exhibit area is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., except on Thursday, Oct. 11 when the exhibit will open at 4 p.m.

School house

This historic school house from Lizard Lick serves as the N.C. State Fair's museum. Paul and Lynn Blakinship serve as the State Fair historians and have collected State Fair memorabilia from throughout the fair's 159-year history. Hours vary.

Bluegrass Stage

Sit a spell and listen to great bluegrass artist. Larry Cordle will perform daily at noon, 3 and 6 p.m. Cordle is a singer/songwriter, who has written songs for some of country music's biggest stars.

Flue Cured Tobacco Barn

See a working tobacco barn, and compete in a tobacco stringing contest. The stringing contest is Friday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. Entry time, and practice time, will be Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., while the barn is being filled.

A mock tobacco auction will be held Friday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. in the Expo Building.

Demonstrations

James Madren will demonstrate his woodcarving technique to handcraft large, dough bowls. Learn from Lyle Wheeler, whose shaker-style chairs are crafted through the traditional methods dating back to colonial days. See live blacksmithing demonstrations, and taste homemade ice cream, apple cider and get a hush puppy sample from the Old Grist Mill.

Storyteller
Southern history is full of myths, legends and tall tales. Sharon "Ma" Hutto, a storyteller from Cottonwood, Ala., will share many of these entertaining tales with fairgoers while also demonstrating fire cooking. Before ovens, stoves and microwaves, individuals had to cook on fires built on the floor. The storyteller will demonstrate fire cooking in a 200-year-old pre-Civil War spider pot, cooking such Southern staples as biscuits, cornbread, beans and pies. Storytelling will be continuous throughout the day.

The church in Heritage Circle

The Campers on Mission host a variety of entertainment daily at 12:30, 1:45, 3 and 4:15 p.m. They also host church services on Sunday mornings at 8:30 and 11 a.m. The organization also provides food and services to carnival workers.

Old Grist Mill
Experience a historic, working grist mill and get a delicious hush puppy sample.

Forest Service Exhibit

Up the hill from Heritage Circle, be sure to check out the 21-foot-tall Smokey Bear display and learn about trees and how to prevent forest fires.

Also in this area is a working steam-powered sawmill. Volunteers are on hand to explain how the engine works and show how it was used to transform timber into boards.

One of the State Fair’s most popular and enduring attractions, the Village of Yesteryear features more than 75 artists and crafters creating, displaying and selling time-honored handmade crafts.

This exhibit, held in the Holshouser Building, offers fairgoers a great opportunity to get a jump on their holiday shopping with items for all price ranges.

Fair visitors can watch crafters spin wool into yarn, weave yarn into cloth, make rugs, turn pottery, carve wooden bowls and utensils, make split-oak baskets and more. Native American crafts such as hand-coiled pottery, beadwork and stone carving are also featured. Kids and kids-at-heart can even make their own dolls or stuffed toy to take home.

The Village of Yesteryear is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, except on Thursday, Oct. 11 when the exhibit will open at 4 p.m.

For more information, go to www.villageofyesteryear.org. Or read a blog post from the Deep Fried @ The N.C. State Fair blog about the Village of Yesteryear by clicking here.