Event Spotlight · Fall 2026
North Carolina State Fair 2026: A 230-Foot Wheel, Country Ham and 11 Days in Raleigh
Every October, North Carolina gathers at the State Fairgrounds on Trinity Road in Raleigh. The North Carolina State Fair runs October 15 - 25, 2026, open every day, with livestock barns, a midway, free stage shows, nightly fireworks and a long deep-fried menu. This year adds the tallest wheel the fair has ever had. Here’s how to make the most of it.
Since 1853: a farm fair that grew up
The State Agricultural Society held the first State Fair in 1853. It lasted four days, and its biggest day drew about 4,000 people, according to the fair’s own timeline. It moved to its present site in 1928, when the N.C. Department of Agriculture took it over, and the department still runs it.
The grounds’ landmark is J.S. Dorton Arena, completed in 1952 as the livestock pavilion, with what the fair calls the world’s first column-free roof. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Civil Engineering Landmark. The Village of Yesteryear heritage-crafts hall celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.
It is still a farm fair at heart. Livestock classes have run since 1853, and in 2025 a giant pumpkin set a site record at 2,244.5 pounds. Find this year’s biggest pumpkins and watermelons in the Agri Supply Expo Center.
New for 2026: the America 250 Wheel and more
- America 250 Wheel: 230 feet tall, with 45 gondolas themed to U.S. presidents, each seating six. It replaces the SkyGazer behind Dorton Arena with views for 14 miles, and the fair bills it as the largest portable observation wheel in the world. It needs its own ticket; the ride wristband doesn’t cover it.
- Two new midway rides: Twin Twister and Casino, a spinning ride built like a roulette wheel.
- New shows: the Americana 250 Band Organ, the One-Man Band near the Scott Building, and a Patriotic Light Show near Kiddieland at 6 PM and every hour on the hour through 11 PM.
- New buildings: the Midway Event Center hosts the opening ceremony on Friday, Oct. 16, plus food vendors and seating. The Flower Show moves into a rebuilt building, and the Village of Yesteryear’s hall now has air conditioning.
What your admission covers
Most of the fair comes with the gate ticket. Free grounds shows include The Red Trouser Show’s acrobatics, The Birdman free-flight bird show, Cowboy Andy’s Wild West Show and the Cast in Bronze carillon in Heritage Circle. The Homegrown Music Fest has more than 60 sets by North Carolina acts over the 11 days, including a bluegrass and folk stage.
Leave time for the livestock barns, milking demonstrations, the Folk Festival’s dance and music competitions and Heritage Circle’s tobacco barn, which is strung and cured during the fair. Fireworks go up every night at 9:45 PM over the Heritage Circle pond. Grandstand shows cost extra: a tractor pull Oct. 16 to 18 and Motorsports Mayhem (monster trucks and demolition derby) Oct. 23 to 25.
The food: 80-plus new dishes and a country ham comeback
Fairgoers tell the fair that food is the No. 1 reason they come, and vendors are debuting more than 80 new items this year. The News & Observer’s picks include pickle cheesecake on a stick, birria egg rolls with consommé, jerk lobster rolls and cotton-candy-wrapped bacon on a stick. WRAL’s list adds a Dubai burger with pistachio sauce and a dirty soda made with Cheerwine. Biscoff turns up all over the menu.
For something rooted in the state, look for country ham. Ham competitions return after a 27-year break, with judging and curing and cooking demonstrations in Dorton Arena on opening day. On Monday, Oct. 19, Heritage Circle has more demonstrations from noon, including sweet potato and country ham biscuits cooked on a wood stove. Inside Dorton, the Got to Be NC Agriculture Pavilion has local producers and a cooking stage; on Dorton’s south side, the NC Public House pours North Carolina beer and cider.
The Cheese Curd Shack, which has fried white cheddar curds at the fair since 2017, was named the fair’s top food vendor by News & Observer readers. Two longtime stands won’t be back in 2026: Al’s French Fries and Charlie Barefoot & Sons hot dogs. The fair’s online Food & Ride Finder shows where vendors are.
Getting there, parking and what to bring
- Driving: From most directions, take I-40 to Wade Avenue (Exit 289), then Edwards Mill Road, and follow signs. Parking is free on State Fair, Carter-Finley Stadium and Lenovo Center lots, except the Lenovo Center lots on Wednesday, Oct. 21, which are paid.
- Free park and ride: The Dogwood Lot (4501 Reedy Creek Road) shuttles to Gate 8, and the Cardinal Lot (5766 Chapel Hill Road, off Hwy 54) shuttles to Gate 7.
- Train and bus: NC By Train stops right outside Gate 1 during the fair (station code NSF; book ahead). GoRaleigh runs an express shuttle every 30 minutes from Dix Park to Gate 1, and GoDurham runs a free hourly express bus from Durham Station.
- Bags and cash: A clear bag of any size gets the faster security line. Outside food and nonalcoholic drinks are allowed; alcohol, weapons and pets are not (service dogs are welcome). Firearms are banned by state law during the fair, even with a permit. Bring cash: games are cash only and some vendors don’t take cards.
- Accessibility: Accessible parking is near Gate 10 at Blue Ridge and Trinity roads, with overflow at Carter-Finley. Wheelchairs, scooters, strollers and wagons rent near Gates 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10, first come, first served. On Sensory Day, Sunday, Oct. 18, vendors, rides and games run without lights or music until 1 PM, and the Graham Building has a quiet zone with noise-canceling headphones to borrow.
- Deal days: College students with ID get discounted gate admission on Thursday, Oct. 15. Seniors 65 and older are free on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Military personnel and veterans plus three guests are free with ID on Wednesday, Oct. 21. On Thursday, Oct. 22, six nonperishable food items buy one free admission. On weekdays, a lunch pass lets adults in free from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at Gate 9 or Gate 1 with a cash deposit refunded if you leave by 1:30.
Around Raleigh
The fairgrounds sit on Raleigh’s west side, a short drive from several free stops. A few ideas:
- North Carolina Museum of Art. Just up Blue Ridge Road, the People’s Collection galleries and the 164-acre Museum Park are free. The park has 4.7 miles of trails and outdoor art and is open daily, dawn to dusk; the galleries are open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
- Dorothea Dix Park. Raleigh’s largest urban park, free and 308 acres, with the Gipson Play Plaza playground and a family of giant trolls to find. The GoRaleigh fair shuttle starts here.
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Downtown on Jones Street, with free timed-entry tickets, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
- Eastern-style barbecue. Visit Raleigh’s guide points to Sam Jones BBQ (502 W. Lenoir St.), which smokes whole hogs on site and traces its roots to the Skylight Inn in 1947; The Pit (328 W. Davie St.), for vinegar-sauced whole hog downtown; and Ole Time Barbecue (6309 Hillsborough St.), a no-frills spot for a barbecue plate with hush puppies and banana pudding.
Also on the calendar nearby
Three more events on our calendar are open during the fair’s run within about an hour of Raleigh:
Hill Ridge Farms Fall Pumpkin Festival
A family farm festival north of Raleigh with a free pumpkin for every admission, open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM (until 8:30 PM on Oct. 17 and 24). Tickets are sold at the farm only. Try the apple cider donuts.
Gross Farms Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
A seventh-generation Century Farm with a large corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkins and hayrides. Go on a weekend or an October Friday evening; other weekdays are pumpkin patch only.
The Haunted Forest at Panic Point
Five haunted attractions on one ticket, including a hayride and a corn maze, open Friday through Sunday on both fair weekends (Oct. 16 to 18 and 23 to 25), with timed tickets and free parking.
Before you go
Dates, times and an add-to-calendar link: North Carolina State Fair on USA Fest Bot
More fairs are still on the calendar; see state fairs 2026, or browse North Carolina events.
Dates can change, so check the event’s website before you go.
Quick answers
When is the North Carolina State Fair in 2026?
October 15 - 25, 2026, open every day, at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, per our listing.
What are the hours?
Noon to 11 PM on Oct. 15, then 9 AM to 11 PM (11:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays). Be inside by 9:45 PM.
Is parking free?
Yes, at the fairgrounds, Carter-Finley Stadium and the Dogwood and Cardinal shuttle lots. Lenovo Center lots are paid on Oct. 21.
Are there free days?
Seniors 65 and older on Oct. 20, military and veterans plus three guests on Oct. 21, and anyone bringing six nonperishable food items on Oct. 22. Kids 5 and under are always free.
Can I bring my own food?
Yes. Outside food and nonalcoholic drinks are allowed; bags are searched, and clear bags move faster.
USA Fest Bot is not affiliated with this event or any event mentioned here and does not sell tickets. Found a detail that has changed? Send a correction.