Everything you need to know about the 2025 North Carolina State Fair
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N.C. State Fair returns to Raleigh Oct. 16-26. Photo: Alexis Clinton/Axios
The North Carolina State Fair is open Oct. 16-26. From Ferris wheels to farm animals to fried food — we’re giving you the rundown of the annual tradition.
Why it matters: The N.C. State Fair isn't just about deep-fried cheesecake and carnival rides. It's a way for North Carolinians to celebrate their shared roots, support small businesses and showcase agricultural innovation. Last year, nearly 1 million people visited the state fair.
Hours: Fairgrounds open daily at 9am except for opening day, when the gates open at noon. Gates close at midnight on weekends and 11pm on weekdays (but you must be in by 9:45pm). View the full schedule here.
- Location: 4285 Trinity Road in Raleigh. It's about a 2.5-hour drive (or train ride) from Charlotte.
- Cost: Entry is $10-$13 for adults and $0-$7 for kids. Purchase your ticket before Oct. 17 to save a few dollars. Kids ages five and younger enter free. There are also discounts for adults in the military, seniors and group tickets. These tickets don’t include most fair rides.
- Pro tip: Bring a clear bag to go through the faster security line. Non-clear bags are allowed but discouraged. Read the fair’s bag policy here.
How to get there
Drive: Set your GPS for 4285 Trinity Road in Raleigh. There are multiple free parking lots with shuttles that will take you to the fair.
Train: Avoid the traffic by taking the Amtrak train straight to the fairgrounds from destinations like Charlotte or Durham. It drops you off just steps away from Gate 1 of the fair.
- Times and prices vary.
Fair food
You can find some of the wackiest, wildest food pairings you’ve ever seen at the fair.
What’s new: The fair added 88 new foods this year, including Flaming Hot Cheetos pickle pizza, a hot honey jalapeño popper donut with bacon, a pickle pop and lots, lots more.
Go deeper: 5 bizarre but delicious foods at the 2024 N.C. State Fair
What to do
There are game stands, fun houses and Ferris wheels as far as the eye can see. If you’re a thrill-seeker, check out the drop towers and inverted rides.
- Bringing little ones? There’s even an entire ride zone designated for the kiddos.
- Another one the kids will love: The State Fair Ark, where you can check out more than 60 animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and more.
- Stick around until the evening for nightly fireworks shows.
- Know before you go: More attractions can be found here.
Pro tip: If you don’t ride anything else, definitely get a ticket for the State Fair flyer, which gives you a view of the fair from up high. View all the rides and games.
Exhibits and vendors: Have you seen antique farm equipment from the early 1900s? Want to wander through fresh crops like okra, peanuts and sweet potatoes?
- The fair has several exhibits that allow guests to walk through and get up close to historical artifacts, crops and vegetables before they get to the grocery store.
One of the most popular attractions is the Village of Yesteryear, which features more than 75 local artisans displaying and selling time-honored handmade wares.
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Editor's note: This story was first published in Oct. 2021 and last updated Oct. 10, 2025.