The Unforgettable State Fair

Another one of my favorite things in autumn is the North Carolina State Fair. There are few years in my life that I’ve actually not attended the fair. Like many Raleighites, I have my favorite Fair vendors from which to get a foot-long hot dog. Or a ham biscuit. Another place to get mountain-cold apple cider, funnel cake dusty with powdered sugar or cotton candy.

My Fair experiences have changed over the years with my—ahem—maturity.

Once upon a time, my best friend, Kathye and I tested our mettle on the rollicking, rolling Himalaya; scanned the Raleigh skyline atop the Ferris Wheel; and clamped hands over our ears at the grinding gears at the tractor pull. We braved the House of Mirrors; attended concerts at the Dorton Arena; stayed to ooh and aah over the fireworks.

With small children, my Fair experiences comprised of winging strollers through packed crowds. There’s an art to it in case you didn’t know. As a Fair aficionado, I have my own preferred route from one end of the Fair complex to another end. Every native Raleighite has one. What to do first, second . . . last. A state fair sized version of the Normandy invasion. When Corinne and Kathryn were small, we did pony rides; frequented the petting zoo; and had a craftsman from the Village of Yesteryear cut paper silhouettes of each girl.

Now with teenagers in tow, we try to do something for every family member’s interests. We go through the gorgeous Art Deco Ag buildings, admiring the 4-H booths, and get free samples from the It’s Got to Be NC tent. Corinne enjoys the art and the horse show. Kathryn’s mainly in it for the food, so in this economy we share funnel cakes, cotton candy and ice cream. We inspect the Master Gardener displays at the Flower Show and walk and walk until our legs ache, our bellies are full and its time to go home.

Do you like the Fair wherever you live? What are your favorite things to do at the Fair? What do you like to eat at the Fair?