NC State Fair runs Oct. 16-26 in Raleigh
The 2014 N.C. State Fair starts Oct. 16 and visitors will find many of their old favorites mixed in with a variety of new entertainment and exhibits.
The Neon Anteaters may sound like an emerging rock ‘n’ roll group, but they are actually one of the fair’s newest roaming acts. These purple and blue creatures are quadruped stilt walkers and they will be doling out “slurpy kisses” at the flower show during their daily strolls.
In Kiddieland, Izzie, a face-painting fairy, will be moving around on Glitter, her bicycle dragon, while stopping to tell stories to fairgoers. Near the rabbit barn, the family-friendly Tumbleweed Crossing Wild West Show featuring special effects, stunt performances and comedy gun-fight scenes will perform daily at noon, 3, and 6 p.m., with an additional show at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Other free and new acts include:
The Farmer Phil Show featuring juggling, yo-yo and magic routines while teaching audiences of all ages a little about farmers and agriculture. Shows are held daily in Kiddieland Fun Park.
Roberto the Magnificent, performing daily on the north side of Dorton Arena. Earning a silver medal at the World Juggling Championships at age 15, Roberto has been entertaining audiences with his comedy show, which encourages audience participation and features juggling and a unicycle, for more than 20 years.
Brad Matchett, comedy hypnotist, returning with even more family-friendly shows. He will perform nightly at 7:30 in the Folk Festival tent, with an additional 9 p.m. show on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Down to Earth Aerials dazzling fairgoers with high-flying feats on the north Dorton Arena lawn. Any fairgoers nearby should have a great view of their show, which takes place in the air with twists, turns and heart-stopping stunts.
Grounds entertainment also includes more roaming acts such as Popping Penelope doing her balloon act in front of the Expo Center; stilt-walking by Zachari; Walking Tree Man; and Living Statues.
Music lovers will find a mix of pop, rock, country and Latin throughout the day on the Kitchen Craft Waterfall Stage and bluegrass performances in Heritage Circle.
Other returning favorites include The One Man Band, Kenya Safari Acrobats, K-9s in Flight, Fire Safety Show, Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Sensations, Dale Jones Juggler, Circle C Racing Pigs and Melvin the Wacky Wheeler.. At 9:45 nightly, fireworks presented by OneMain Financial will light up the sky.
The north lobby of Dorton Arena will feature a new exhibit honoring North Carolina’s involvement in World War I. Historians in uniform will be on hand to answer questions and explain the soldiers experience in the trenches. This exhibit is presented by N.C. Cultural Resources and The N.C. National Guard.
The Ag Today tent on the south side of Dorton Arena will show the latest in precision agriculture, including an unmanned aerial vehicle.
New this year at the Hunt Horse Complex is a Year of the Horse Celebration. The schedule of events includes a variety of activities including headline shows, parade of breeds and free, five-minute riding lessons.
All grounds entertainment and exhibits are free with admission to the fair. Visit www.ncstatefair.org or pick up a daily program at the entrance gate for times of performances and exhibit hours. Fairgoers can also download the free N.C. State Fair app on Android and Apple devices. While enjoying the fair, be sure to use #ncstatefair to share your memories on social media. Look for selfie stations scattered around the fairgrounds for a few suggested photo opportunities. You can follow the fair on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The N.C. State Fair runs Oct. 16-26 at the State Fairgrounds. Advance tickets are on sale at www.ncstatefair.org. Advance tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for ages 6-12. Admission at the gate is $9 for adults and $4 for ages 6-12. Walk-up ticket sales begin Oct. 2 in Burlington, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Durham, Wilson and Raleigh. Go to www.ncstatefair.org for more on sites and hours.
