RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The North Carolina State Fair opened Thursday, drawing visitors from across the state for rides, games, live music and a wide variety of food offerings, including dozens of new menu items and a newly opened food hall.
The fair, now in its 158th year, features more than 90 rides. Organizers say the 230-foot-tall America 250 Ferris wheel is the event’s signature attraction.
Fairgoers arrived with different plans for the day. Some focused on food, while others looked forward to rides and entertainment.
“It’s my birthday. That’s why I came,” said Essence Gray of Greensboro.
“I just love it. I love the food, everything,” said Trencia Mole of Sanford.
Gray said she was eager to experience both food and rides.
“I want to eat a fluffy donut and ride the tornado,” she said.
Among the new vendors this year is The Yard Milkshake Bar, located inside the fair’s new $25 million food hall, which opened Thursday. The business was featured on “Shark Tank” in 2019.
The vendor brought six specialty milkshakes to the fair, according to its owner.
“At our shop, we have over 15 different ones, but we ony brought 6 to the fair because it’s a lot,” the owner said.
Featured items included the Raleigh Food Trap, made with red velvet ice cream and red velvet cheesecake, and a strawberry and cream cheesecake shake served in a vanilla-iced jar rolled in graham crackers. The business’s main store is located in Seaboard Station.
This year’s fair also brings a significant change for food vendors. Instead of paying a flat fee, vendors now give the fair 15% of their sales.
A fair spokesperson said North Carolina is one of the last large fairs in the country to move to a percentage-based model.
Several long-running vendors chose not to participate this year, including Al’s French Fries, ending a nearly 70-year presence at the fair.
Oak City Fish and Chip also announced on social media that it would not attend, writing, “Our customers deserve better, and we deserve better.”
Other vendors decided to remain despite the changes.
Deep River Kettle Korn returned for its 12th year. Owner Jamie McConiga said the fair is one of the business’s largest annual events.
“We do a couple little things and this is one of our bigger events,” McConiga said.
Angel Louis, owner of Angel Sweets, said she is waiting to see how the new vendor model affects her business.
“We don’t know what the changes are necessarily gonna look like as it relates to our bottom line. But, we do what we do every year and hope for the best.” Louis said.
Fair officials expect 950,000 people to attend during the fair’s 11-day run.
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