North Carolina State Fair
Encyclopedia
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
and agricultural exposition held in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, and organized by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The North Carolina State Fair was first held by the North Carolina Agricultural Society at a site east of Raleigh in 1853; it has been celebrated continuously since then, with the exceptions of 1861 to 1869 (during the Civil War and Reconstruction), 1926 to 1927 (when the Agricultural Society disbanded and the state Agriculture Department took over operations), and 1942 to 1945 (during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
). In the 1870s and 1880s, the mills in Winston-Salem would close so that workers could attend the state fair in Raleigh.
The fair has been held at its present site on the western edge of Raleigh since 1928. The highlight of the 344 acre (1.4 km²) fairgrounds complex is Dorton Arena
Dorton Arena
The J.S. Dorton Arena is a 7,610-seat multi-purpose arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, on the grounds of the North Carolina State Fair...
, a 7,500-seat arena constructed with a unique large suspended roof.
Held for 10 days in mid-October, the fair annually attracts over 800,000 North Carolinians. As of 2008, the fair has added an additional day and now lasts 11 days.In 2010, the fair broke an attendance record with 1,091,887. This marks the first extension of the fair's length in 22 years.
Rides/Entertainment
It has the largest midwayMidway (fair)
A midway at a fair is the location where amusement rides, entertainment and fast food booths are concentrated....
at any state fair.
Rides require tickets; some cost two to three tickets, while the wilder ones are five to six tickets.
Roller coasters
As of 2008, the midway had two major roller coasters.The more intense of the two, the Toxic Shock, is a blue and orange roller coaster that is known for twists and banked curves.
The Ride:
The train makes a loose turn out of the station and up a steep 70 feet (21.3 m) lift hill. It then proceeds down a banked twisting drop and into the first of three over-banked curves. At the base of the third over-banked curve, the track stays moderately banked and around a 3.0 g helix. The track levels and pulls into the station.
The other roller coaster, the Avalanche, is milder. The car pulls out of the station and around a 180-degree right turn onto the lift. The car ascends the 50 feet (15.2 m) lift and around another 180 turn to the right. The car then descends a 40 feet (12.2 m) drop, reaching 54 mph before climbing 40 feet (12.2 m) into the first banked curve. Around that and down a second 20 feet (6.1 m) drop that then takes you back up into the spiral, banking more heavily as you descend. You are warned about high g forces here but there are no strong g forces on this ride. When you finally exit the spiral, you descend a small dip and pull into the station.