Deals & Discounts | NC Agriculture

Special Event Days

Primetime with the Pack

Thursday, Oct. 17 - $8 Student Admission for NC State Students

Students at NC State get admission for just $8 by showing their NC State Student ID card at the gate!

This offer is only available at the gate on Thursday, Oct.17 and is valid only for students.

accessABILITY Day presented by Bandwidth

Sunday, Oct. 20

Running from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20, visitors can expect the following on accessABILITY Day:

Rides and games will open at 9 a.m. and will operate with no lights or music playing.
Vendors will operate with no lights or music at their booths.
Music stages will only play acoustic sets with light amplification.
The public address system will only be used for lost visitor announcements.

Activities on accessABILITY Day include:

A “Bandwidth Chill Out Zone” will be available to guests in the Graham Building with tables/chairs, low lighting and soft music playing for those who need to take a break from the busy atmosphere outside (9a.m. - 5 p.m.).
Guests can compete in specially designed inclusive and/or adaptive “on the spot” competitions (9 a.m. - 1 p.m.).
Noise cancelling headphones will be available to check out in the “Bandwidth Chill Out Zone” for those who need them (9a.m. - 5 p.m.).

Senior Citizens' Day

Tuesday, Oct. 22

On Tuesday, Oct. 22, seniors ages 65+ get free admission to the Fair! Beginning at 9 a.m., while supplies last, Bojangles' biscuits and coffee will be served on the Dorton Patio near the Waterfall at the Senior Fun Fest. A program with Commissioner Steve Troxler and music will kick-off at 10 a.m.

Accessible parking is available on a first come, first served basis outside Gate 10. Access the parking lot via Trinity Road. Overflow parking and overflow handicap parking will be available at Carter Finley Stadium (Gate A). Trams will be available to move fairgoers from the parking lot to Dorton Arena. Buses may drop off passengers at Gate 1, the closest gate to all the activities in Dorton Arena and then move to Carter-Finley Stadium for parking.

Military Appreciation Day

Wednesday, Oct. 23

The N.C. State Fair will pay tribute to members of the U.S. Military for their service to the country on Wednesday, Oct. 18.

Join us for a parade through the grounds at 10 a.m. Starting in the carnival midway, the parade will make its way through Kiddieland, past the Scott Building and back through the carnival midway.

Military Appreciation Day Waterfall Stage Activity Schedule

Full schedule coming soon!

Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day

Thursday, October 24 - Bring 6 cans of food and get in free!

Hunger Relief Day began at the N.C. State Fair in 1993 and since then, fairgoers have donated over 6 million pounds of food to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and its partners. It has become one of the largest one-day canned-food drives in the state.

Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day will take place on Thursday, Oct. 24. Fairgoers can bring six cans of food to the fair gates to exchange for free admission.

Discounts & Deals

Daily Military Discount

Active-duty service members, reservists, retirees, National Guardsmen and their dependents (ages 13-64) pay only $8 daily at the gate. That’s a 38% discount! Veterans are offered the same discount for themselves, plus one discounted ticket for a guest or dependent, for a total of two tickets at the reduced rate.

Identification accepted for discount:

Valid Uniformed Services ID
Valid Common Access Card (CAC)
Valid North Carolina Driver’s License with Veteran Designation
Valid Veteran's Affairs Health Identification Card
Photocopy of valid DD-214 Form
Photocopy of valid NGB-22 Form

Weekday Lunch Pass Program - ADMISSION ONLY

Take your lunch break at the fair!

Visit Gate 9 off Trinity Road, or Gate 1 off Hillsborough Street ONLY after 11:30 a.m. on weekdays. This offer is not valid at other gates or on weekends.
Purchase a lunch card at the gate for $10 with cash (cash sales only).
Buy your lunch from the many fair food vendors on site. Fair food vendors take cash. ATMS are available inside the fairgrounds.
Return the lunch card by 1:30 p.m. to the same gate you entered on the same day purchased the card for a full $10 cash refund.
If you leave later than 1:30 p.m., then you forfeit your $10. The card is good only on the day purchased. This program is only for adult admission, no food is included.