North Carolina State Fair
- Dates
- Oct 15 to 25, 2026
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- N.C. State Fairgrounds
- Price
- $10 to $13
- Camping
- Available
- Last checked
- Oct 14, 2026
North Carolina State Fair returns to N.C. State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, NC, Oct 15 to 25, 2026. Froligo tracks current ticket prices, camping, attendee feedback and travel details.
What to eat & drink
The organiser's own September 24, 2026 release calls food the No. 1 reason fairgoers attend, with over 80 new food items for 2026 and Biscoff cookies, Hawaiian rolls and international flavors named as trending among them; a full list was promised on the fair's Facebook page rather than its own site. The Got to Be NC Cooking Stage runs daily chef demonstrations built around North Carolina seafood, sweet potatoes and locally raised beef.
The experience
What's special
The North Carolina State Fair runs eleven consecutive days each October at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, a site the fair has used since 1928 and that traces its first edition back to 1853. Gate admission is ten dollars bought online in advance and thirteen dollars at the gate for an adult, with youth, senior and military rates priced separately and children five and under admitted free; carnival rides, the new 230-foot America 250 Wheel, Casey's Big Slide, the State Fair Flyer sky ride and grandstand shows such as the Tractor Pull and Motorsports Mayhem are each a further ticket on top of that gate price, never included in it. Hours run from nine in the morning most days to eleven at night, stretching to half past eleven on the two closing weekends, with a later noon opening and eleven o'clock close on the Thursday the fair begins; gates must be entered by a quarter to ten in the evening
What people love
The organiser itself names food as the top reason fairgoers attend, with more than eighty new food items debuting in 2026 alongside Biscoff cookies, Hawaiian rolls and international flavors as trending additions
Last time around
The 2025 fair drew 946,811 visitors over its 11-day run, with more than 27,000 general and livestock competition entries and a record 2,244.5-pound giant pumpkin
Music & entertainment
Lineup not yet announced. Email me the day it lands.
Getting there
How do I get to North Carolina State Fair?
By car
Most people drive to North Carolina State Fair. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
Taxi & rideshare
Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. Cost Free parking is available on State Fair, Carter-Finley Football Stadium and Lenovo Center properties, except that Lenovo Center parking is reserved/paid on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Recreational vehicles may not remain in State Fair-managed parking spaces between midnight and 8 a.m. Accessible parking is a dedicated lot at Blue Ridge Road and Trinity Road near Gate 10, overflowing to Carter-Finley Stadium
🚙 Car hire
Where
Venue
N.C. State Fairgrounds
Accessibility & comfort
What the organiser or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.
The organiser's Accessibility Guide: handicap-permit parking in a 100+ space paved lot at Blue Ridge Road and Trinity Road near Gate 10, with overflow handicap parking at Carter-Finley Stadium when that lot fills; accessible restrooms throughout, with all buildings stated to comply with ADA standards; universal changing tables in the Scott Building, Agri Supply Exposition Center, Kiddie Land Restrooms, Grandstand Restrooms, Gate 8 Restrooms and the Midway Event Center; mothers' rooms in the Scott and Martin Buildings, the Agri Supply Exposition Center and the Midway Event Center; wheelchair and electric scooter rentals (first come, first served, via Mobility Concepts LLC) near Gates 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10
Confirm your specific needs with the organiser's access team before you travel.
Pricing
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