Exhibit Links

A new exhibit where visitors can go on a fun and interactive career personality scavenger hunt to learn about the wide variety of career paths in the agricultural industry.

Agriculture is about more than just farmers - science, math, acting, writing, construction, nutrition, gardening and other areas of interest all play vital roles in our state’s number one industry: agriculture.

Speak with representatives from N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, High School career development counselors, N.C. State University College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Biofuels Center of NC and more. Activities for all ages can be found here. Located near Gate 12 and open daily from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. except on Thursday, Oct. 13 when the exhibit will open at 4 p.m.

More information can be found online here: careeroutlook.us/cultivate

Thank you to our sponsor:

Children are invited to spend some time on the Fair’s miniature farm to learn more about the connection between the farm and the dinner table.

Features of this exhibit include a resting area for parents, a greenhouse, aquaculture display and container gardening information. And don't forget to stop by the photo op site just outside of the exhibit for a great fall family photo.

Presented by the N.C. Farm Bureau and the NCDA&CS, this exhibit includes a coloring contest, storytelling center and a photo area where families can take a snapshot from their day at the “farm.”

Located near Gate 1 and Dorton Arena. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., except on Thursday, Oct. 13 when the exhibit will open at 4 p.m.

This oasis on the Fairgrounds features winding pathways through beautiful gardens grown by local organizations.

More than 90 demonstrations will be held throughout the fair dates, with experts offering advice on such topics as pumpkin carving, flower arranging and proper plant care. Climb on the giant Adirondack chair, or pose with the Barrel Monster family for a unique photo op.

The Flower & Garden Show competitions feature cut perennial and annual flowers, scented herbs and potted plants. The colorful arrangements inside and the themed gardens outside are intended to be both educational and artistic. The Flower Show often inspires amateur gardeners to green their thumbs by planting their own personal gardens.

Don't let the relaxed atmosphere of the Heritage Circle fool you, the nook near the Flower Show has some of the most hard-working people at the N.C. State Fair. There is plenty of activity at the circle, from the crew maintaining the tobacco barn during the Fair to the craftsmen demonstrating their traditional methods of woodcarving, blacksmithing and chair-building. Visitors can also enjoy the taste of homemade ice cream, apple cider or a hush puppy from the Old Grist Mill as they listen to engaging stories or the sweet melodies from the Bluegrass Stage.

The exhibit area is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., except on Thursday, Oct. 13 when the exhibit will open at 4 p.m.

Bluegrass Stage

• Sit a spell and listen to great bluegrass artist. Multiple performances take place each day on the Bluegrass stage. Stay tuned for the schedule
  
  Demonstrations

• James Madren will demonstrate his woodcarving technique to handcraft large, dough bowls and crafted kitchen spoons. Learn from Lyle Wheeler, whose shaker-style chairs are crafted through the traditional methods dating back to colonial days. See live blacksmithing demonstrations, and taste homemade ice cream, apple cider and get a hush puppy sample from the Old Grist Mill.
  
  Storyteller
  Southern history is full of myths, legends and tall tales. Sharon "Ma" Hutto, a storyteller from Cottonwood, Ala, will share many of these entertaining tales with fairgoers while also demonstrating fire cooking. Before ovens, stoves and microwaves, individuals had to cook on fires built on the floor. The storyteller will demonstrate fire cooking in a 200-year-old pre-Civil War spider pot, cooking such Southern staples as biscuits, cornbread, beans and pies. Storytelling will be continuous throughout the day.

The church in Heritage Circle

The Campers on Mission host a variety of entertainment each day of the Fair. Groups from throughout North Carolina will perform gospel music and puppetry on Thursday, October 13 from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. and every day October 14 through October 23 from 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.  Morning worship services are held on Sunday mornings during the Fair at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. inside the historic church.

Old Grist Mill
Experience a historic, working grist mill and get a delicious hush puppy sample.

Up the hill from Heritage Circle

In this area 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.

Download a Village of Yesteryear Scavenger Hunt

• Learning about traditional handicrafts (pdf)
• Who am I? Learning about the craftsmen (pdf)
• Traditional Handcrafts and Photographic Exploration (pdf)

One of the State Fair’s most popular and enduring attractions, the Village of Yesteryear features more than 75 artists and crafters creating, displaying and selling time-honored handmade crafts.

This exhibit, held in the Holshouser Building, offers fairgoers a great opportunity to get a jump on their holiday shopping with items for all price ranges.

Fair visitors can watch crafters spin wool into yarn, weave yarn into cloth, make rugs, turn pottery, carve wooden bowls and utensils, make split-oak baskets and more. Native American crafts such as hand-coiled pottery, beadwork and stone carving are also featured. Kids and kids-at-heart can even make their own dolls or stuffed toy to take home.

The Village of Yesteryear is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, except on Thursday, Oct. 13 when the exhibit will open at 4 p.m.

For more information, go to www.villageofyesteryear.org. Or read a blog post from the Deep Fried @ The N.C. State Fair blog about the Village of Yesteryear by clicking here.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s State Fair exhibit, located downhill from the Village of Yesteryear, will feature exhibits demonstrating how the Commission uses sound science and public involvement to conserve wildlife for all to enjoy.

The state fair button, which the agency has given away each year since 1981, will feature a gopher frog.

Throughout the duration of the fair, visitors of all ages can take a shot at the air rifle range and learn about firearms safety from Wildlife Enforcement Officers.

The exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily, except on Thursday, Oct. 13 when the exhibit will open at 4 p.m.