The NC State Fair’s been teasing a ‘huge’ announcement. Here’s what it is

The NC State Fair has been teasing a “huge” announcement all week, as the annual fair in Raleigh is a mere four weeks away.

From 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, the fair is holding a flash sale for adult and youth tickets, offering individual admission tickets at group rate prices.

NC State Fair admission tickets flash sale

Tickets bought during the flash sale are $8 for adults (ages 13-64) and $4 for youth (ages 6-12). To purchase at the discounted rate, visit ncstatefair.org/buytixnow.

“It is the cheapest you can buy fair tickets for,” said Heather Overton, NC State Fair communications director.

• Tickets bought before Oct. 13 are $10 for adults and $5 for youth.

• To buy online, visit ncstatefair.org/2023.

• These rates are also available before Oct. 13 at select walk-up locations, such as the State Farmers Market or the NC Museum of History.

• At the gates, tickets are $13 for adults and $7 for youth. The daily military discount is $8, only available at the gates.

• At any time, children (ages 0-5) get free admission, while tickets for seniors (ages 65+) are $5.

When is the 2023 NC State Fair?

The 2023 NC State Fair runs from Thursday, Oct. 12 to Sunday, Oct. 22.

• The first day of the fair has a different schedule than all the days following. On Oct. 12, gates open at noon, as do exhibit halls and ticket booths.

• Oct. 13-22, gates open 9 a.m. daily and either close at 11 p.m. or midnight.

• Ticket booths and exhibit halls open at 9 a.m. as well, and depending on the day, they close either at 9:45, 10 or 11 p.m.

• Adverse weather may cause shifts in the daily schedule.

• The NC State Fairgrounds are at 4285 Trinity Rd. in Raleigh. Free parking is available on the State Fair and Carter-Finley Football Stadium property.

(Details: ncstatefair.org/2023/Visitor/Tickets.htm)

Are there other ticket discounts for the NC State Fair?

Adult or youth groups of 40 or more can get ticket discounts for $8 per adult or $4 per youth. To purchase, contact jan.hallisey@ncagr.gov.

These passes must be purchased online by Oct. 12:

• Dizzy Pass: $38 includes a FastTrack gate admission ticket and an unlimited ride wristband, only valid for one day during the 2023 State Fair.

• Kegs & Corks Pass: $17 includes a FastTrack gate admissions ticket and an NC Public House Beer + Wine ticket, which provides two craft beer samples or three craft wine samples.

• State Fair Flyer Package: $34 includes two FastTrack gate admission tickets and two round-trip State Fair flyer tickets, which are not valid for carnival rides.

• State Fair SkyGazer: $14 includes one FastTrack gate admission ticket and a SkyGazer (Ferris wheel) ticket, which is not valid for carnival rides.

And there are a couple of days when some folks can get into the fair for free:

• Senior Citizens’ Day (Oct. 17): Seniors ages 65+ get free admission on Tuesday, Oct. 17. Bojangles biscuits and coffee will be served at 9 a.m. on the Dorton Arena Patio near the Waterfall.

• Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day (Oct. 19): Bring six cans of food and get in free on Thursday, Oct. 19. Since Hunger Relief Day began at the State Fair in 1993, fairgoers have donated more than 5.8 million pounds of food to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

(Details: ncstatefair.org/2023/Visitor/Deals.htm)

Which new foods will be at the NC State Fair in 2023?

We’ll know in early October.

Keep up with our coverage this fall to stay in the loop. We’ll let you know as soon as we do!

Last year’s new foods included:

• Deep-Fried Piggy Tails by Beaver Concessions

• Deep-Fried Bacon Mac-n-Cheese Tacos by Bubba’s Bacon

• Dillylicious Loaded Pickles by Chester’s Gators and Taters

• DoriEsquites by Douglas Farms

• Chicken Pot Pie Biscuit by Fun Time Foods

• Thanksgiving-Stuffed Turkey Leg by Hickory Tree Turkey BBQ

• Churro Tots by Hot Chix Hotcakes & Chicken

• Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels by La Farm Bakery

• Rattlesnake Corndog by Pioneer Wagon

• Deep-Fried NC Country Ham with Bourbon Peach Jam by Ragin’ Cajun

• Pepsi-Glazed mini donuts by S2 Concessions

• Sweet Potato Country Ham Biscuit by Somethin’ Good (Ezzell’s)

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