Buy early, save money on N.C. State Fair tickets

Food Lion shoppers in North Carolina can now buy N.C. State Fair tickets along with their groceries.

“For the first time, State Fair fans can purchase discount admission and ride tickets at Food Lion stores,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Tickets will be available from cashiers during normal business hours at Food Lion stores statewide until store closing on Oct. 13.”

Advance admission tickets are $8 for adults and $3 for children, $2 less than the cost at the gate. Children 5 and under and adults 65 and over get in free.

Admission tickets for large groups cannot be purchased at Food Lion stores. For information about purchasing tickets for groups of 40 or more, visit www.ncstatefair.org.

An 18-ticket ride sheet is $10 in advance, saving fairgoers $8 off the regular price.

Discount admission, ride tickets and special combination packages for the 2016 N.C. State Fair also are on sale online at www.ncstatefair.org.

The 2016 N.C. State Fair runs Oct. 13-23 at the State Fairgrounds.