Posted by Bruce Bilmes and Sue Boyle
, October 14, 2008 12:59
The first North Carolina State Fair was held in 1853, and has been held every year since, with breaks for the Civil War and WWII. It’s been held at the present site in Raleigh since 1928. Total attendance last year reached over 800,000 visitors.
Barbecue is the thing to eat here. North Carolina barbecue! Various churches and community organizations offer this local specialty, as do the North Carolina Pork Producers; the chopped pork is served on a bun, or as part of a plate with hush puppies and slaw or beans or French fries. You’ll also find some of the great local country ham, perhaps nestled between halves of a biscuit, and fried catfish too. Look for Brunswick stew to round out your Carolina feast.
The Got To Be NC Agriculture exhibit will feature local growers and producers, with a changing array of samples throughout the fair. There’s an extensive horse show schedule, and all sorts of competitions will be held at the fair, from agronomy to wine. There’s an extensive concert schedule, featuring Montgomery Gentry and Josh Turner, tractor pulls, demolition derbies, and BMX stunts. The Folk Festival Tent celebrates North Carolina’s musical heritage.
