Deals & Discounts | NC Agriculture

Special Event Days

Wolfpack Day

Thursday, Oct. 16 - $8 Student Admission for NC State Students

Students at N.C. State get admission for just $8 by showing their N.C. State Student ID card at the gate!

This offer is only available at the gate on Thursday, Oct.16, and is valid only for students.

Sensory Day presented by Bandwidth

Sunday, Oct. 19

Running from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, visitors can expect the following on Sensory Day:

When gates open at 9 a.m., vendors and booths will operate without lights or music until 1 p.m.
Rides and games begin at 10 a.m. and will also operate without music or lights until 1 p.m.
Music stages will only play acoustic sets with light amplification.
The public address system will only be used for lost visitor announcements.

Activities on Sensory Day include:

A “Bandwidth Chill Out Zone” will be available to guests in the Graham Building with tables/chairs, low lighting and soft music playing for those who need to take a break from the busy atmosphere outside (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.).
Guests can compete in specially designed inclusive and/or adaptive “on the spot” competitions (9 a.m. - 1 p.m.).
Noise cancelling headphones will be available to check out in the “Bandwidth Chill Out Zone” for those who need them (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.).

Senior Citizens' Day

Tuesday, Oct. 21

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, seniors ages 65+ get free admission to the Fair! Beginning at 9 a.m., while supplies last, Bojangles' biscuits and coffee will be served on the Dorton Patio near the Waterfall at the Senior Fun Fest. A program with Commissioner Steve Troxler and music will kick off at 10 a.m.

Accessible parking is available on a first-come-first-served basis outside Gate 10. Access the parking lot via Trinity Road. Overflow parking and overflow handicap parking will be available at Carter Finley Stadium (Gate A). Trams will be available to move fairgoers from the parking lot to Dorton Arena. Buses may drop off passengers at Gate 1, the closest gate to all the activities in Dorton Arena, and then move to Carter-Finley Stadium for parking.

Duke Energy Military Appreciation Day

Wednesday, Oct. 22

The N.C. State Fair in partnership with Duke Energy will pay tribute to members of the U.S. Military for their service to the country on Wednesday, Oct. 22. With *proof of identification, military personnel plus one guest will gain free entry to the fair.

Join us for a parade through the grounds at 10 a.m. Starting in the carnival midway, the parade will make its way through Kiddieland, past the Scott Building and back through the carnival midway.

Duke Energy Military Appreciation Day Waterfall Stage Activity Schedule

10:45 a.m. – Military Appreciation Day Program

11:15 a.m. – 440th Army Band

12:30 p.m. - 440th Army Band

2:30 p.m. – N.C. Department of Cultural and Natural Resources Military Uniform Revue

3:30 p.m. – 440th Army Band

5:30 p.m. – 440th Army Band

*Acceptable form of identification:

Uniformed Services ID, Common Access Card, North Carolina Driver's License with Veteran Designation, Veteran's Health Identification Card, photocopy of DD-214 or photocopy of NGB-22 form.

Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day

Thursday, Oct. 23 - Bring six cans of food and get in free!

Hunger Relief Day began at the N.C. State Fair in 1993, and since then fairgoers have donated more than six million pounds of food to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and its partners. It has become one of the largest one-day canned-food drives in the state.

Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day is Thursday, Oct. 23. Each fairgoer can bring six cans of food to the fair gates to exchange for one free admission ticket. (e.g., 18 cans of food equals three admission tickets.)

Discounts & Deals

Daily Military Discount

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! 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.

Identification accepted for discount:

Valid Uniformed Services ID
Valid Common Access Card (CAC)
Valid North Carolina Driver’s License with Veteran Designation
Valid Veteran's Affairs Health Identification Card
Photocopy of valid DD-214 Form
Photocopy of valid NGB-22 Form

Weekday Lunch Pass Program - ADMISSION ONLY

Take your lunch break at the fair!

Visit the fair only between 11:30 and 1:30 on a weekday to get in free!

Visit Gate 9 off Trinity Road, or Gate 1 off Hillsborough Street ONLY between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on weekdays. This offer is not valid at other gates or on weekends.
Purchase a lunch card at the gate for $20 with cash. (cash sales only)
Buy your lunch from the many fair food vendors on site. Fair food vendors may take cash and/or credit cards. ATMs are available inside the fairgrounds.
Return the lunch card by 1:30 p.m. to the same gate you entered, on the same day you purchased the card for a full $20 cash refund.
If you leave later than 1:30 p.m., then you forfeit your $20. The card is good only on the day purchased. This program is only for adult admission. No food is included.

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