North Carolina State Fair

The North Carolina State Agricultural Society organized the first North Carolina State Fair in 1853 at a site east of Raleigh. In addition to promoting North Carolina's farmers and agricultural produce, the Agricultural Society also wanted to create an event to "attract and encourage interaction among people from all sections of the state." By the start of the 20th century, the fair featured a midway with various attractions, human and animal freak shows, hoochie coochie shows, car and horse races, and thrill shows. Its profits are reinvested in the fairgrounds. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State canceled the 2020 fair. It resumed in 2021. == Buildings ==

The fairground's most significant structure is J. S. Dorton Arena, a 7,500-seat stadium designed by architects Matthew Nowicki and William Henry Deitrick in 1949. Opening for the centennial of the fair's founding, Dorton Arena "became the symbol of the modern fair." Atwood and Weeks, an architectural firm from Durham, designed the stucco-covered buildings. The fairgrounds also contain the Pitzer Heritage Circle and the Heritage Tobacco Pavilion. ==Exhibits==

The fair includes many exhibits, including the Antique Farm Machinery exhibit, the Flower and Garden Show, the North Carolina Forest Service and North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation exhibit, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission exhibit. Got to Be NC Agriculture features cooking demonstrations, pop-up cooking contests, and free food samples. == Competitions ==

The state fair provides ample opportunities for North Carolinians to enter competitions, with some 36,000 entries in 2021. The fair awards prizes for artwork, cake decorating, canned food, floral arrangements, cut flowers, garden design, handicrafts, home furnishings, quilting, shoe decorating, and terrarium building. Newer competitive categories include Christmas tree decorations, graphic design, and robotics. There is also a Home Chef Challenge and competitions for apprentices in carpentry, cosmetology, electrical, HVAC, masonry, and plumbing. The Folk Festival was first held at the fair in 1948 to showcase North Carolina's traditional music and dance. More than 1,500 people participate yearly for the coveted Bascom Lamar Lunsford Trophy, named after the festival's founder. == Entertainment ==

Carnival rides In 2004, Powers Great American Midways, based out of Burgaw, North Carolina, won the midway contract for the fair. For 2022, the fair decided to use Dorton Arena for non-music events. The Homegrown Music Festival features more than 100 concerts by local musical acts on two stages throughout the day. Other popular acts include the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, racing pigs at Hogway Speedway, and various roaming acts. The Kiddieland Fun Park caters to children with stage shows and attractions. == Amtrak station ==

During the fair, NC By Train establishes a temporary train station adjoining the fair grounds, which is served by Amtrak's Carolinian and Piedmont. == Accidents and incidents ==

On October 24, 2013, five people received injuries when the Vortex ride restarted as they exited the ride, operated by Powers Great American Midways. On October 29, 2013, the operator of the ride, Timothy Dwayne Tutterow, was charged with three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon for inflicting serious bodily injury in connection with the accident. In June 2015, Tutterow pled guilty but was not sentenced as part of a plea arrangement to testify against the ride owner, Joshua Gene Macaroni. On February 19, 2016, Macaroni served thirty days in jail. ==Other resources==

• McLaurin, Melton Alonza. The North Carolina State Fair: The First 150 Years. Raleigh: Office of Archives and History, N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, 2003. ==References==