Frequently Asked Questions
Minimum height requirements for children’s rides are 36 inches tall. The Kiddieland Midway area consists of about 25 rides, in addition to about 4 games suitable for young children. Most children's rides cost between 2 and 4 tickets. The games do not accept ride tickets, and are cash only.
Children under 40" tall can ride for free, when accompanied by a paying adult 16 years of age or older on slides and carousels. The adult must accept guardian responsibility and use good judgment when choosing which of the available rides to allow a young child to ride. The accompanying adult must pay using tickets or wristbands.
Groups of 40 or more people qualify for the group discount of $8 per ticket. See the Deals and Discounts page for more information.
There are wheelchairs, electric scooters, wagons and strollers available near gates 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Wheelchairs and electric scooters are first come, first serve. The vendor will take a deposit of collateral such as cash, a driver's license or car keys.
Services provided by Mobility Concepts LLC.
Yes, you can bring food and drinks with you. Just be aware that all baggage is subject to being searched at the gate for weapons, glass bottles, alcohol, drugs and other prohibited materials.
Yes, parents can bring their own diaper and lunch bags, wagons, strollers, umbrellas and other personal items to the fair, just be aware that all baggage is subject to being searched at the gate for weapons, glass bottles, alcohol, drugs and other prohibited materials.
Yes, changing tables are available in both men's and women's restrooms, and family restrooms are available in the Martin and Agri Supply Expo buildings.
There are mothers' rooms in the Scott, Martin, Agri Supply Expo and Graham buildings.
There are universal changing stations in Agri Supply Expo and Scott.
Yes, there are mothers' rooms in the Scott, Martin, Agri Supply Expo and Graham buildings.
Yes. Service dogs are welcome at the Fair. Pets are not.
No, we do not allow personal golf carts on the grounds due to liability and safety reasons.
Yes, all modern buildings at the Fairgrounds have been modified to standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. There may be some historical buildings in our Heritage Circle area that are not accessible.
- Livestock barns and shows. Many youngsters participate in livestock shows, some barely taller than the animals they are showing. In the Expo Center, students can even milk a cow at the N.C. State University Animal Science Club's Milking Booth.
- Folk Festival. This event features kids of all ages competing in dance and singing.
- Arts and Crafts. School work for grades K-12 are on display in the Kerr Scott Building.
- 4-H Displays in the Education Building features scenes created by 4-H groups in the state.
- County Fair Best of Show Exhibit (Commercial & Education Building), where adult and junior Best of Show winning entries from fairs across the state are displayed.
If you have questions about ordering tickets online, call 919-653-0443, go to Etix Online Support or https://support.etix.com/.
No. Vendors, games, carnival rides and admission gates do accept cash.
Many of our vendors accept credit cards, but some do not.
Cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and ApplePay will be accepted at all gate locations for admission ticket purchases.
In an effort to improve fairgoer safety and efficiency of entry into the N.C. State Fair, a modified clear bag policy will be in place in 2023. This policy is only in effect for the N.C. State Fair in October and does not extend to additional events held at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.
The N.C. State Fair will operate two security checkpoints at each gate. Those fairgoers who bring a clear bag will go through a much quicker inspection, while those with an opaque bag will go through our bag search line. In an effort to get you into the fun as quickly as possible, please bring your items in a clear bag. There is no size limit to the clear bag being accepted.
Outside food and drink, water bottles, diaper bags with baby/toddler supplies and medications are allowed.
Alcoholic beverages, drugs, firearms, knives, brass knuckles, batons and/or weapons of any type are not allowed.
Service dogs are allowed. All pets are prohibited.
PLEASE NOTE: The N.C. State Fair reserves the right to prohibit any item deemed dangerous or unsuitable by public safety officers at security checkpoints. Prohibited items that are discovered during security inspections at the entrances must be either returned to the owner's vehicle or discarded. Unlawful items that are discovered during security inspections are subject to confiscation, and the person in possession of those items may be denied entrance into the N.C. State Fair and is subject to arrest.
Insider Tips
- Check out all the various fruit and vegetable entries, including the largest pumpkin and the largest watermelon in the Expo Center. There is a photo op site near these giants. One of the most interesting categories is for unusual shaped vegetables.
- Milking Demonstrations are held between the Graham Building and Expo Center. Check out the daily schedule for times.
- Check out the "buzz" at the Bee and Honey competition area in the Expo Center. Beekeepers are on hand to talk about beekeeping and the critical role bees play in producing our food.
- Up the hill from Heritage Circle, be sure to check out the 21-foot-tall Smokey Bear display and learn about healthy forests and how to prevent forest fires.
- Also up from Heritage Circle is a working steam-powered sawmill. Volunteers are on hand to explain how the engine works and show how it was used to transform timber into boards.
- Learn about the animals that inhabit North Carolina's forests and oceans with hands on activities, videos and guides to answer all your questions.
- Stroll through the Old Farm Machinery exhibit near the Children's Barnyard and see a collection of vintage tractors and horse-drawn equipment on display. Volunteers are on hand to answer questions and explain how equipment was used.
- See how tobacco leaves were cured in a traditional flue-cured tobacco barn in Heritage Circle. On Friday, Oct. 18, a tobacco-stringing contest will be held at 2 p.m. and then the working barn will be loaded with tobacco. Once the barn is loaded, a fire will be started to begin the curing process. A mock tobacco auction will be held on Friday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. in the Tobacco Pavilion.
Other Activity Ideas
- Take a picture of yourself at as many photo op spots as you can find on the fairgrounds. These are located in the Field of Dreams Exhibit, next to the Giant Pumpkin in the Expo Center, Flower Show area and Kiddieland Fun Park.
- Decide which agricultural heritage activity you found most interesting on the fairgrounds (blacksmith, craft-making, growing large horticulture crops, cutting flowers, raising and showing livestock, making clothes etc.), then write a short essay about it.
- Try to name as many crops, animals, pieces of machinery and crafts as you can in alphabetical order.
- Go on the State Fair Scavenger Hunt. Download the hunt here, explore the fair and make sure you stop by the Information Booth in front of the Expo Center for your blue ribbon once it's complete!
Accessibility Guide
Parking
- Visitors with handicap permits should park in the paved parking lot at the corner of Blue Ridge Road and Trinity Road, near Gate 10 of the Fairgrounds. There are more than 100 parking spaces designated for use by visitors with disabilities in this lot, but a valid handicap permit is required. Visitors can access the Fair through Gates 9 and 10.
- When handicap parking spaces at Gate 10 are filled, drivers with valid handicap permits will be directed to overflow handicap parking at Carter Finley Stadium.
- Cars occupying spaces in lots designated for visitors with disabilities must display valid handicap permits, stickers or plates at all times.
- Buses and vehicles may unload passengers with disabilities in the paved parking lot near Gate 10, but may only park there if the vehicle displays a valid handicap permit and if space is available. The driver of the vehicle should inform a traffic patrol officer of the intention to simply drop off disabled passengers. Gate 1 is also an option for drop-off.
Motor Coach and School/Church Bus Transit
- Motor coaches, school and church buses may drop-off and pick-up passengers at our Bus Transit Zone at
Gate 1. Gate 1 is located on Hillsborough Street near the intersection with Blue Ridge Road. Motor coaches will then be directed to parking in Lot 4000, PNC Arena. Church and school buses will park at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Wheelchair and Electric Scooter Rentals
- There are wheelchair and electric scooter vendors set up near gates 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Wheelchairs and electric scooters are first come, first serve. The vendor will take a deposit of collateral such as cash, a driver's license or car keys.
Services provided by Mobility Concepts LLC.
Tram Services
- Visitors who do not require wheelchairs may also take advantage of tram services. A 25-passenger exterior perimeter tram will circle the fairgrounds outside of the gates, making stops at gates 2, 8 and 10.
- An inner perimeter tram operates inside the gates of the fairgrounds for a fee. This tram stops at Gate 1, Gate 10, Dorton Arena and Gate 8. Ticket booths for purchasing tram tickets are located at each of these stops inside the fairgrounds. Tram tickets cannot be purchased in advance.
- Neither the interior nor exterior tram services are wheelchair accessible.