North Carolina State Fair runs Oct. 11-21
A tree that moves, a family that soars and a man who is his own four-piece band. These are just some of the new attractions awaiting visitors to the 2012 N.C. State Fair, to be held Oct. 11-21 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.
"From agricultural exhibits to midway attractions, there's something for everyone at the North Carolina State Fair," said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. "It's no surprise that we've seen more than a million people come to the fair each of the past two years."
Free Entertainment
Several new entertainers will be joining the lineup of free performances, musical acts and roaming entertainment available at the fair, including the Kenya Safari Acrobats. The troupe, founded by Kenya natives living in Greensboro, combines action and acrobatics into a high-energy show. Another new performance is Jim Cruise the Spoon Man. Cruise will wow crowds at the Kiddieland Stage with his daily spoon-playing shows.
New musical performers will take to the Kitchencraft Waterfall Stage on the Dorton Arena lawn. Reality Show Band will bring a mix of contemporary and classic chart-toppers to the stage each day except Military Appreciation Day, Wednesday, Oct. 17. Louisburg native and country musician Larry Frick will take the stage for the last weekend of the fair, Oct. 18-21. On the Bluegrass Stage, fairgoers can sit down and enjoy the sounds of Larry Cordle. The Kentucky native will perform original bluegrass songs daily.
Fairgoers also should be on the lookout for two new roaming acts at this year's fair. Marc Dobson, the One Man Band, will be roaming the grounds daily. Equipped with a mechanized drum set, guitar, harmonica and microphone, Dobson will perform popular songs to the delight of the crowd. At the Flower and Garden Show, the Tree of Life will be making rounds and interacting with visitors alongside last year's crowd-pleaser, DiVine, the living vine.
Exhibits
The Village of Yesteryear, a staple of the fair for more than 60 years, is welcoming several new artists to its exhibit of crafters and artisans. The artists include Chris Morgan of Selma, wet plate photography; Jeri Buek of Hendersonville, wool appliqué, punch needle and penny rugs; Larry and Beth Lytle of Old Fort, cold process lye soap; William and Pamela Kennedy of Seagrove, crystalline pottery; Mary Phillips of Gatlinburg, Tenn., pressed wildflowers; Patricia Tierney of Raleigh, seed bead weaving; and Jim Huskins of Marion, handcrafted guitars, banjos and mandolins.
This year, the Cultivate a Career exhibit will dig deeper into the breadth of agriculture-related careers. Local craft brewers and coffee producers are just some of the professionals that will be on hand during the fair to answer questions and offer advice for those interested in pursuing an ag career.
A mobile dairy classroom will set up near the Expo Center for daily milking demonstrations. The traveling milking parlor, operated by Southwest Dairy Farmers, will include information on the modern milking process, cow anatomy and the nutritional benefits of dairy foods.
Midway
Powers Great American Midways will add two new rides to its lineup of carnival attractions on the midway. The rides, Rock Star and Genesis, can each hold more than 20 passengers at a time. Each ride features a rotating arm, which lifts seated riders into the air in a clockwise motion. The N.C. State Fair boasts more than 100 carnival rides.
The N.C. State Fair will be held at the N.C. State Fairgrounds Oct. 11-21. Discount tickets are available online. Adult tickets are $6 in advance, $8 at the gate. Children's tickets are $2 in advance or $3 at the gate. Children under 6 and seniors 65 and older get in free. Ride sheets also can be purchased in advance for $10 for a sheet of 18 tickets. Tickets can be purchased online or at several retail locations throughout the greater Triangle area. For more information on this year's fair, or to buy tickets, go to www.ncstatefair.org.
