Raleigh, N.C.
Oct 13, 2016
Explore a working tobacco barn, learn about North Carolina State Parks, view vintage bicycles or investigate North Carolina's amazing array of historic sites, aquariums, zoo and museums through the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources exhibits at the North Carolina State Fair.
- Discover a working tobacco barn in the Heritage Circle area, sponsored by N.C. Tobacco Growers Association, where on Friday, Oct. 14, Duke Homestead will have a tobacco looping contest and then on Friday, Oct. 21, they will have a mock tobacco auction. Each at 2 p.m. See volunteers cure and string tobacco the old-fashioned way and take a peek inside the barn to see the curing process.
- Learn about the many ways you can explore North Carolina's history at our museums or State Historic Sites, experience creatures from all over the world at the N.C. Zoo and N.C. Aquariums, or explore the natural world at our N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences at an exhibit we've created in the north lobby of the Dorton Arena. DNCR staff will be on hand to provide information about all the exciting places and events we offer.
- See interpreters portraying soldiers from throughout American history during the Military Appreciation Parade and historical uniform revue at 11 a.m., Wed., Oct. 19.
- Remember the Persian Gulf War of 1990-91 with an exhibit presented through a partnership of the N.C. Museum of History and N.C. Department of Military & Veterans Affairs. Learn more about Desert Shield and Desert Storm, along with North Carolina's role in the conflict.
- Sign up for the 100-Mile Challenge or pick up your N.C. State Parks passport at the N.C. State Parks exhibit just outside Dorton Arena. The State Parks booth, which commemorates the system's 100th anniversary, features two interactive activities to help fair visitors "make memories" in a North Carolina state park - ride the trails atop a mountain bike at William B. Umstead State Park or paddle a canoe in Merchants Millpond State Park. There will be kids' activities and games, and park rangers will be onsite Saturday, Oct. 15 through Friday, Oct. 21 to lead programs.
"We're always thrilled to participate in the North Carolina State Fair," said Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Susan Kluttz. "It's one of my favorite events of the year, and I hope that people will take the opportunity to visit each of our exhibits and learn about all the fantastic experiences our department has to offer."
This is DNCR's third year partnering with the fair to help visitors explore arts, history, nature and culture in North Carolina. Each year, the department's exhibit attracts about 250,000 visitors.
Explore the fair from the comfort of your home
Even if you can't make it out to the N.C. State Fair this year, you can explore the fair's history and culture online. The State Archives and State Library offer several great resources:
Even if you can't make it out to the N.C. State Fair this year, you can explore the fair's history and culture online. The State Archives and State Library offer several great resources:
- Blue Ribbon Memories: Your History of the N.C. State Fair, is an online exhibit that showcases photographs, premium lists, newspapers clippings and other materials available on our State Fair Ephemera Digital Collection and allows fairgoers to share memories of their own State Fair experiences.
- The State Archives and State Library Flickr accounts both feature dozens of photographs, video clips and ads from fair publications over the years. Several of the items are newly-posted this year.
- Two videos from the State Archives, posted here and here, show the fair as visitors saw it in the 1940s and 1960s, respectively.
- Hundreds of scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, local histories and photos featuring the State Fair are available online from cultural institutions across the state through DigitalNC, which is supported in part by the State Library.