Activities shaping up for Got to Be NC Festival May 21-23
Activities for the 2010 Got to Be NC Festival are starting to take shape and the event promises to be the biggest one to date. The festival will be held May 21-23 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, with free admission and parking.
Visitors will find plenty of their favorites returning, including antique tractors and farm equipment, the N.C. Pig Jig barbecue cook-off, N.C. Food Expo, draft horse pull, tractor pull, lawn mower racing, bluegrass music competition, classic cars, a Harley-Davidson drive-in, music, rides and games.
“This is the third year for this event and it keeps getting bigger and better every year,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “I hope you will come join us because there will be plenty of activities for the whole family.”
This year the Fiber Fair will expand in size to offer more demonstrations on weaving, carding, looming, sheep shearing and dyeing. Vendors will also have wool, yarn and fiber products for sale. The Fiber Fair will again be housed in the Holshouser Building.
The Amran Shriners will hold the festival’s first Fish Fry Friday, May 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The menu will feature plenty of North Carolina flavor, with N.C. mountain trout, catfish, shrimp and flounder available. All proceeds will benefit the Shriners Hospital.
On Saturday, May 22, the N.C. Pig Jig returns, pitting Masonic lodge against Masonic lodge in a barbecue cook-off for bragging rights and a good cause. Once the pork is judged, it will be chopped and sold to raise money for the Masonic Home for Children and the Central Children’s Home, both in Oxford.
In 2009, 20 teams competed, and organizers expect even more teams this year. The Prince Hall District #27 team took home the grand champion trophy.
“Antique tractors and farm equipment are one of the big draws of the festival, and festival goers will find even more tractors on display every day this year in all makes and models,” said Jim Knight, festival manager. “This year we are excited to have a special display of Corbitt trucks and equipment in celebration of the Henderson company’s 100th anniversary.”
The Dale Earnhardt Foundation will make its festival debut this year, with Kerry Earnhardt on hand to sign autographs and raise awareness about the foundation’s efforts. There will also be a separate NASCAR display between Dorton Arena and the Jim Graham Building.
North Carolina food and wine companies will be offering samples and products for sale daily in the Expo Center as part of the popular Food Expo.
Two entertainment stages will feature country, alternative, beach and bluegrass music. Stages will be near the Expo Center and in the Flower Show area of the fairgrounds.
A bluegrass competition, sponsored by Pine Cone, will be held Saturday, May 22, starting at 1 p.m. The competition is limited to 10 groups. Go to www.NCAgFest.com for registration information.
Antique and classic cars will be on display on the fairgrounds Friday, May 21, from 5 to 8 p.m. On Saturday, May 22, Harley- Davidson motorcycles will be on display beginning at noon.
The grandstand will again be home to a number of “horse-powered” sports, including a draft horse pull Friday, May 21; a tractor pull Saturday, May 22, and lawn mower racing Sunday, May 23.
For more about the festival, go to www.NCAgFest.com.
