GENERAL INFORMATION

What are the dates of the N.C. State Fair?
The 2019 N.C. State Fair runs Thursday, Oct. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 27.

What is the physical address of the State Fairgrounds?
1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607

See map: Google

What are the hours?

Hours are different on different days. Please refer to the calendar to find out the hours on the day you are planning to attend.

Can I bring food, drinks or bags with me?
Yes, you can bring food and drinks with you in small bags. Just be aware that all baggage is subject to being searched at the gate for weapons, glass bottles, alcohol, drugs and other prohibited materials.

Can I exit the gates and re-enter the Fair on the same day?
Yes, as long as you get your hand stamped before exiting the gates, you can re-enter on the same day. This does not apply to the Lunch Pass Program.

What are the closest hotels to the fairgrounds?
There are two hotels within walking distance to the Fair, but they fill up fast. Blue Ridge Ramada Inn, 1520 Blue Ridge Road, (919) 832-4100; and the Comfort Suites Arena, 1200 Hurricane Alley Way, (919) 854-0502.

For more nearby businesses and hotels, visit the Hotel Partners page, or the Raleigh Convention and Visitor's Bureau website to search for more lodging options.

Are pets allowed inside the gates during the N.C. State Fair?
No, companion animals (pets) are not allowed inside the N.C. State Fair. The noises, sounds and crowds are too much to ask a pet to endure. We do welcome leashed service dogs who are trained to handle these experiences. We use the U.S. Justice Department's definition of a service animal under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Is there a military discount?

Yes, active-duty service members, reservists, retirees, National Guardsmen and their dependents (ages 13-64) pay only $8 daily at the gate. That’s a 38% discount! Proper identification (outlined below) must be presented at the ticket window to receive this discount. One valid identification is required per discounted ticket.

Additionally, veterans are offered the same discount for themselves, plus one discounted ticket for a guest or dependent, for a total of two tickets at the reduced rate. Proper identification (outlined below) must be presented at the ticket window to receive this discount.

This offer is not available online or in advance. You must present proper identification at the ticket window to receive this discount. A valid identification must be presented for each discounted ticket.

Identification accepted for discount:

• Valid Uniformed Services ID

• Valid Common Access Card (CAC)

• Valid North Carolina Driver’s License with Veteran Designation

• Photocopy of valid DD-214 Form

• Photocopy of valid NGB-22 Form

Military Appreciation Day is Wednesday, Oct. 23. The day will feature special exhibits, a parade and performances by military bands.

When is Senior Citizen's Day?
Senior Citizens Day is Tuesday, Oct. 22. The Senior Citizen Fun Fest will be held in Dorton Arena at 9 a.m.

When is Food Lion Hunger Relief Day?
Food Lion Hunger Relief Day (Can Day) is on Thursday, October 24. Exchange SIX cans of Food Lion canned food products for one free admission ticket.

The fair will remain open as long as possible; we only close the gates as a last resort. At times, it may become necessary to temporarily close some rides if conditions are deemed unsafe to operate, but we will reopen rides as soon as possible.

Do you have lockers or a storage area for bags?

No, we do not offer any kind of storage or lockers.

What foods are available at the Fair this year?
The State Fair has hundreds of food varieties, including traditional corn dogs, candy apples and funnel cakes, and we strive to select vendors who offer something new each year. New foods will be listed on the New in 2019 page closer to fair time.

LOST AND FOUND

Where is Lost & Found?
DURING THE FAIR: All lost and found articles can be turned in or claimed at the Public Address booth located in the lobby of the Exposition Center. If you realize you're missing an item after you get home, give our Lost and Found a call at 919-839-4691.

AFTER THE FAIR: Items will be held in the Administration Office until Dec. 15, then they will be donated to a local organization. Call 919-839-4502 from 8 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

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How much is admission to the N.C. State Fair?
Ticket prices are $13 for adults, $7 for youth and free for seniors 65 and over, and children under 5. Adult tickets are only $8 with a valid military ID. Visit the Tickets page for more information and discounts offered during the advance sale period.

Can I buy my tickets over the phone?
No. For more information, go to the Tickets page.

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Can I buy tickets using a credit card?
Yes. See the Tickets page for locations and options.

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Do I have to buy my tickets in advance?
No, you do not have to buy tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased at any gate the day you attend the fair. For more information, go to the Tickets page.

Will there be special discount days?
Yes. Food Lion Hunger Relief Day at the Fair will be held Thursday, Oct. 24. The popular event allows fairgoers to gain free admission to the Fair by donating SIX cans of food to North Carolina hunger-relief efforts. This is one of the largest one-day canned-food drives in the state, held each year to benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

I purchased my ride tickets in advance, online. Where do I get the actual tickets?

When you purchase your ride tickets or wristbands online, you receive a ride voucher. This voucher can be redeemed inside the gates, during the fair, at one of three Ride Ticket Redemption Tent locations:

• On the north side of Dorton Arena (near the waterfall)
• Near Gate 8
• In Kiddieland

The ride ticket redemption booths will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Look for the bright green tent.

Can I use ride tickets to play games on the Midway?
No, ride tickets cannot be used for the games. You do not need tickets for the games, just cash. Most games take at least $1 to play. We have ATM machines on site.

I have a problem with my eTix order. Who do I contact?
Please call 919-653-0443 or e-mail support@etix.com.

How do I get to the N.C. State Fairgrounds? What is the street address?
For detailed directions, visit the Get to the Fair page. The street address is 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607. See map: Google

What is the address to the FREE Parking Lot at Reedy Creek?

4501 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, NC 27607

Will buses provide transportation to the Fair?

The best option for getting to the fair is to park in a Park & Ride lot and ride the bus. See the Bus & Train Information for locations of all Park & Ride lots. Park & Ride buses drop off patrons just outside the Fairgrounds gates, eliminating the hassle of finding a parking spot. Convenient Park & Ride lots are available in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill and RTP.

Can I take the train to the Fair?
Yes. For more information, go to www.bytrain.org or see the Get to the Fair page .

Can a person with disabilities attend the Fair?
Yes, all buildings at the Fairgrounds have been modified to standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. See the Accessibility page for more information.

Is parking available for persons with disabilities?
Yes, there is a parking area at the corner of Blue Ridge and Trinity roads, outside Gate 10 for vehicles with a valid handicap permit, placard or license plate. This parking area is accessed from Trinity Road.

See the Accessibility page for more information.

Are wheelchairs and scooters available for rent on the Fairgrounds?
Yes, there are wheelchair and electric scooter vendors set up near Gates 1, 8, 9 and 10. Wheelchairs and electric scooters are first come, first serve and the vendor will take a deposit of collateral such as cash, a driver's license or car keys.

Mobility Concepts LLC at Gates 1 and 10 is accepting reservations on their website.

See the Accessibility page for more information.

Can I rent wheelchairs and scooters in advance ?
Mobility Concepts LLC at Gates 1 and 10 is accepting reservations on their website.

Can I bring my Seeing Eye Dog?
Yes. Trained and leashed service dogs are welcome at the Fair.

Can I bring my own golf cart?
No, we do not allow personal golf carts on the grounds due to liability and safety reasons.

How can I get a job at the State Fair?
Visit the Employment page for more information.

I would like to be a vendor at the State Fair. Can I get a space?
There is a very low turnover for commercial space at the N.C. State Fair. We do look for unique products and services to add to the quality vendors already at the fair. The deadline for applications is July 1. Click here for more vendor information.

How can I be an entertainer at the State Fair?

The entertainment for the 2019 State Fair has been finalized. To be considered for 2020, please send promotional materials in December to:

N.C. State Fair

ATTN: Entertainment Coordinator

1010 Mail Service Center

Raleigh NC 27699-1010

What is the minimum height requirement for children's rides?
Minimum height requirements for children’s rides are 36 inches tall. The Kiddieland Midway area consists of about 25 rides, in addition to about 4 games suitable for young children. Most children's rides cost between 2 and 4 tickets. The games do not accept ride tickets, and are cash only.

Can a parent accompany a young child on a ride?
Children under 40" tall can ride for free, when accompanied by a paying adult 16 years of age or older on selected rides (Merrie Go Rounds & slides). The adult must accept guardian responsibility and use good judgment when choosing which of the available rides to allow a young child to ride. The accompanying adult must pay using tickets or wristbands. This list of rides will be available on the Rides section of the website as soon as possible.

Are there strollers for rent?
Yes, there are stroller and child’s wagon vendors set up at Gates 1, 8, 9 and 10. All strollers and wagons are first-come, first-serve.

Mobility Concepts LLC at Gates 1 and 10 is accepting reservations on their website.

The vendor will take a deposit of collateral such as cash, a driver's license or car keys.

See the Accessibility page for more information.

Can I bring snacks with me?
Yes, you can bring food and drinks with you. Just be aware that all baggage is subject to being searched at the gate for weapons, glass bottles, alcohol, drugs and other prohibited materials.

Can I bring a diaper bag or backpack with me?
Yes, parents can bring their own diaper and lunch bags, wagons, strollers, umbrellas and other personal items to the fair, just be aware that all baggage is subject to being searched at the gate for weapons, glass bottles, alcohol, drugs and other prohibited materials.

Do you have changing rooms or family restrooms?
Yes, changing tables are available in most restrooms, and family restrooms are available in the Martin and Expo buildings. There are mothers' rooms in the Scott, Martin, Expo and Graham buildings.

Do you have an area for nursing mothers?
Yes, there are mothers' rooms in the Scott, Martin, Expo and Graham buildings.

Who is eligible to enter competitive exhibits at the North Carolina State Fair?

General exhibit competitions at the North Carolina State Fair are open to North Carolina residents (except where noted). Age restrictions are listed for certain competitions, such as Home Furnishings, check the rules and regulations of each department for more information before entering.

How do I enter competitions at the Fair?
Consult the online edition of the 2019 North Carolina State Fair General Entries Premium Book for complete information on individual entry deadlines and requirements for each department at the Fair. Most competitions allow for online entry at www.ncstatefair.org; however, some require that a form be mailed to the North Carolina State Fair. Please choose one method of entering in competitions at the Fair.  Do not submit the same entries online and by mail. This will result in duplicate entries that will delay and misdirect the processing of your entry. When completing the registration information, please list your full legal name and refrain from abbreviations or listing a nickname. If you enter competitions in the Fair every year, please make sure to use your full legal name every time you register. This assures that any premiums you win will be properly linked to your name.

How will I know that my entry form has been received by the Fair?
If you entered online, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from the Blue Ribbon Online Registration Site. Make sure that your confirmation e-mail does not say “pending” at the top. If it does, your registration is incomplete and you need to sign-in and submit the information. If you enter online, you do not need to mail an entry form to the Entry Department. If you mailed your entry form to the Fair, please allow a few days for processing before you call to check on the status of your entry. The Entry Department can be reached at (919) 839-4515.

If I miss the entry deadline(s), can I submit a late entry?
No. Once the entry deadline has closed for a particular department, no further entries will be accepted.  This allows for adequate time to process the entries we receive and respects the fellow entrants who followed the rules and regulations requested by the Fair.

When do I bring and pick up my exhibit(s)?
Look under each department heading in the premium book for a list of dates when exhibits can be brought to the Fair and picked up. Please note that all entries remain on display throughout the entire run of the Fair and are not released for any reason until the day after the Fair closes.

Who is eligible to enter competitive exhibits at the NC State Fair?
Livestock shows that are OPEN TO THE WORLD are Dairy Cattle (001), Beef Cattle, (004), Market Barrow (009), Market Gilt (010),  Breeding Gilt (011), Meat Breeds Sheep (015), Dairy Goats (018), Pygmy Goats (020), Wool Breeds Sheep (021) Meat Goats Show 1(023), Meat Goats Show 2 (024), and Open Wether Dam - Meat Goats (026).  The rest of the livestock shows are open to North Carolina ONLY.

How do I enter competitions at the Fair?
Consult the online edition of the 2019 North Carolina State Fair Livestock Entries Premium Book for complete information. Entry deadline for all livestock shows is September 15, 2019. Go to www.ncstatefair.org for online entry and to print paper entry forms.

Can I add entries after I hit submit?

You can add entries after you hit submit. Save your username and password, log back in, add entries and hit submit.

If I miss the entry deadline(s), can I submit a late entry?

No. Once the entry deadline has closed for a department, no further entries will be accepted.  This allows for adequate time to process the entries we receive and respects the fellow entrants who followed the rules and regulations requested by the Fair.

When will I receive a check for the premiums I win at the Fair? 

The processing of information can take several weeks after the Fair closes. Premium checks will be mailed to prize winning exhibitors no later than 60 days after the last day of the Fair. Errors in premium statements will be corrected until January 31, 2020, after which time the books of the 2019 Fair will be closed.

How can I participate in the Demolition Derby?

For Demolition Derby rules and entry information, visit http://jmderby.com/events/

How can I be an entertainer at the State Fair?

The entertainment for the 2019 State Fair has been finalized. To be considered for 2020, please send promotional materials in December to:

N.C. State Fair

ATTN: Entertainment Coordinator

1010 Mail Service Center

Raleigh NC 27699-1010

If you need to contact Etix support, please call (800) 514-3849 or (919) 653-0443 or go to http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/help2.jsp

FAQs from the eTix Web site (click here for more FAQS)

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Please close all browsers; reconnect; check your email account including spam or junk mail folders. If there is no confirmation email (and you are sure that you entered your email address correctly) then disable pop-up blockers and try again directly at WWW.ETIX.COM.

I don't have a credit card. Can I still use your site?
We're sorry, the type of credit card accepted for payment may vary by event, but tickets must be purchased with a major credit or debit card.

I don't have a printer. Can I still use your site?
Yes. Many clients offer delivery methods other than Print at Home. However, if Print at Home is the only option you can still order tickets online and forward the purchase confirmation email that you will receive to anyone with a computer and working printer, and they will be able to print your tickets.

I purchased a ticket earlier, but now I see there are better seats open. What happened to "Best Available"?
When a customer begins the purchase process their seats are pulled out of the available inventory until they purchase them or decide not to continue. If someone has held seats before you began your transaction, but later decides not to buy them, they are released back for sale. This is a common occurrence especially during the on-sale of a popular event. Unfortunately, eTix is not authorized to refund or exchange the tickets you purchased under these circumstances.

The website says that tickets are “Sold Out.” What does that mean?
When tickets are sold out, there are no tickets remaining for the event through eTix. [See previous question]

The event just went on sale, why are there no tickets available?
Just like you, thousands of other customers may be trying to purchase tickets. During a very popular sales day, it is possible to receive a message that says seats are currently unavailable. If a customer begins the purchase process and decides not to continue their seats are released back for sale. You should try refreshing your browser or try again later.

Questions about Printing Tickets

I ordered tickets but did not receive a confirmation email. What do I do?
Confirmation emails are sent immediately upon completion of the transaction. If you have spam blocking or require senders to seek approval, you may not receive it. If you do not appear to receive it, please check the spam or junk mail folders for your email account. The confirmation email sender is ‘thankyou@etix.com’. If you still cannot find the email, you may have entered your email address incorrectly. Please click here to email our support group for assistance and be sure to include your order (confirmation) number for faster assistance. On receipt of your request, eTix will check the accuracy of your email address and will re-send it to you so please be sure to disable any spam blockers and please add "thankyou@etix.com" to your address book to ensure it gets delivered.

What kind of printer, paper and ink do I use to print my tickets?
Any inkjet or laser printer using 8.5" x 11" paper will be fine. Tickets can be printed in color or black and white as you prefer.

My tickets are not printing one to a page, what should I do?
Please check your printer margins.
Using Internet Explorer your margins should be set to .75” on all sides. Text size should be set to ‘Medium’
Using Mozilla Firefox your margins should be set to 1.1” on all sides. Text size should be set to ‘Normal’
Regardless of how your tickets print, as long as the bar codes and\or serial numbers print clearly your tickets will be accepted.

My tickets are not printing the images. What should I do?
If you can see the images on screen but they do not print to the page this is a printer issue. Please consult your user manual. If the images do not print on the same page as the event information, this is a margin issue please review the margin setting instructions above. If the images do not appear on screen this is usually the result of your individual browser settings; please check settings regarding pictures or images. Regardless of how your tickets print, as long as the bar codes and\or serial numbers print clearly your tickets will be accepted.

How do I reprint my Print at Home ticket?
Instructions for reprinting your ticket are contained in the confirmation email sent at the conclusion of your sale. In that email you will find a link that will bring you to etix.com and the user name and password that are required to print the ticket. If you already know your user name and password you can click on the reprint tickets link on the etix.com home page now.

Questions about MY EXISTING ORDER

I ordered tickets but did not receive a confirmation email. What do I do?
Confirmation emails are sent immediately upon completion of the transaction. If you have spam blocking or require senders to seek approval, you may not receive it. If you do not appear to receive it, please check the spam or junk mail folders for your email account. The confirmation email sender is ‘thankyou@etix.com’. If you still cannot find the email, you may have entered your email address incorrectly. Please click here to email our support group for assistance and be sure to include your order (confirmation) number for faster assistance. On receipt of your request, eTix will check the accuracy of your email address and will re-send it to you so please be sure to disable any spam blockers and please add "thankyou@etix.com" to your address book to ensure it gets delivered.

The “processing” screen has been processing for an unusually long time. How can I tell if my order has been completed successfully? Should I try again?
Normal processing time will vary based on your internet connection and browser. If your order has been ‘processing’ for longer than 5 minutes, do not process a new order! You should not process a new order until you have confirmed whether or not your first attempt was successful. If you complete multiple purchases in error, we will be unable to refund additional attempts.
Please close all browsers; reconnect; check your email account including spam or junk mail folders. If there is no confirmation email (and you are sure that you entered your email address correctly) then disable pop-up blockers and try again directly at WWW.ETIX.COM.

I chose Mail Delivery, yet my tickets haven't arrived. Where are they?
eTix mails most ticket orders within a few days of your purchase. In the event that you do not receive your tickets within 48 hours of the event, please click here to email our support group for assistance. Tickets shipped by eTix will arrive in a plain white envelope with a Morrisville, NC return address.
Some venues mail their own tickets, and may have a different delivery time frame. If the delivery method listed was "Regular Mail - Internal Use", these tickets are being sent by the venue, so please contact them regarding your ticket delivery.
If you ordered tickets through eTix as part of a fan club offer, those are usually mailed out 14 days prior to the event and you should receive those no later than two days prior to the event. Should you not receive your tickets within 48 hours of the event, please click here to email our support group for assistance.

(click here for more eTix FAQS)