• For answers to frequently asked questions about taking children with special needs to the fair, visit our Accessibility Guide .
  
  

• Check out all the various fruit and vegetable entries, including the largest pumpkin and the largest watermelon in the Expo Center. There is a photo op site near these giants. One of the most interesting categories is for unusual shaped vegetables.
  
  
• Milking Demonstrations are held between the Graham Building and Expo Center. Check out the daily schedule for times.
  
  
• Check out the "buzz" at the Bee and Honey competition area in the Expo Center. Beekeepers are on hand to talk about beekeeping and the critical role bees play in producing our food.
  
  
• Up the hill from Heritage Circle, be sure to check out the 21-foot-tall Smokey Bear display and learn about healthy forests and how to prevent forest fires.
  
  

• Also up from Heritage Circle 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.
  
  

• Learn about the animals that inhabit North Carolina's forests and oceans with hands on activities, videos and guides to answer all your questions.
  
  

• Stroll through the Old Farm Machinery exhibit near the Children's Barnyard and see a collection of vintage tractors and horse-drawn equipment on display. Volunteers are on hand to answer questions and explain how equipment was used.
  
  

• See how tobacco leaves were cured in a traditional flue-cured tobacco barn in Heritage Circle. On Friday, Oct. 15, a tobacco-stringing contest will be held at 2 p.m. and then the working barn will be loaded with tobacco. Once the barn is loaded, a fire will be started to begin the curing process. A mock tobacco auction will be held on Friday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. in the Tobacco Pavilion. 

Other Activity Ideas

• Take a picture of yourself at as many photo op spots as you can find on the fairgrounds. These are located in the Field of Dreams Exhibit, next to the Giant Pumpkin in the Expo Center, Flower Show area and Kiddieland Fun Park.

  
  
• Decide which agricultural heritage activity you found most interesting on the fairgrounds (blacksmith, craft-making, growing large horticulture crops, cutting flowers, raising and showing livestock, making clothes etc.), then write a short essay about it.
  
  
• Try to name as many crops, animals, pieces of machinery and crafts as you can in alphabetical order.
  
  
• Go on the State Fair Scavenger Hunt. Download the hunt here, explore the fair and make sure you stop by the Information Booth in front of the Expo Center for your blue ribbon once it's complete!
  

Where students can see other kids competing or participating at the Fair

• Livestock barns and shows. Many youngsters participate in livestock shows, some barely taller than the animals they are showing. In the Expo Center, students can even milk a cow at the N.C. State University Animal Science Club's Milking Booth.

  
  
• Folk Festival. This event features kids of all ages competing in dance and singing.
  
  
• Arts and Crafts. School work for grades K-12 are on display in the Kerr Scott Building.
  
  
• 4-H Displays in the Education Building features scenes created by 4-H groups in the state.
  
  
• County Fair Best of Show Exhibit (Commercial & Education Building), where adult and junior Best of Show winning entries from fairs across the state are displayed.