The State Fair Is Trading Tents for Buildings This Year. Here's What Changes for Regulars.

In 2025 the Flower Show was in a temporary tent. When the gates open Thursday, the mums and garden entries will be in a rebuilt log-covered building near Gate 6. The ride most people used to spot from the Beltline, the Skygazer wheel behind Dorton Arena, has been replaced by a wheel 75 feet taller. The GoRaleigh shuttle that picked fairgoers up in Garner last year now leaves from Dix Park.

This year's biggest changes at the North Carolina State Fair, which runs Oct. 15 to 25, are physical. The fairgrounds is replacing stopgaps with permanent structures, and the routes in and out have changed with them.

The fair is building for a centennial

In the fair's September announcement of this year's lineup, State Fair director Kent Yelverton explained the reason for this year's construction:

"This marks a big year for the N.C. State Fair and completing some much-needed improvements on the fairgrounds. The State Fairgrounds at its present location will mark 100 years in 2028 and with these investments we are preparing for the next 100 years."

Three buildings show what that means for this year's fair.

• Midway Event Center. This new multi-use building hosts the opening ceremony on Friday, Oct. 16, at 11 a.m. During the fair it will hold several food vendors, with seating inside and around it. Longer-term plans call for year-round food service and a large rentable conference facility.
• Flower Show building. The log-covered building has been rebuilt to replace the 2025 tent. It sits near Gate 6, in the area where many families have taken photos with the mum display over the years, according to The News & Observer.
• Holshouser Building. The pottery, jewelry and crafts building in the Village of Yesteryear has been remodeled with a new roof and air conditioning.

Two of these change how a fair day feels. The Midway Event Center adds covered seating where food is sold. The Holshouser remodel gives the crafts building air conditioning for the first time. Both are permanent, so both will still be there when the fairgrounds marks its centennial in 2028.

The view behind Dorton Arena is different

The America 250 Wheel replaces the Skygazer in the same spot behind Dorton Arena. It stands 230 feet tall, has 45 presidential-themed gondolas that each seat six, and offers views for 14 miles. The fair calls it the largest portable observation wheel in the world. The unlimited ride wristband doesn't cover it. A ride costs $6 a person, the same price as Casey's Big Slide, while the wristband costs $30 and is good for one day.

Midway provider Powers Great American Amusements is also adding two new thrill rides. The Twin Twister, which the fair describes as "the Rainbow ride times two," spins two seat platforms on back-to-back arms through a full 360 degrees. The Casino ride has a roulette-wheel platform that spins in one direction while the cars spin in others.

Dorton Arena is also bringing back something it hasn't hosted in 27 years: country ham competitions, sponsored by the N.C. Farm Bureau. Judging starts at 1 p.m. on opening day, Thursday, Oct. 15. Curing and cooking demonstrations follow in the arena at 5 and 7 p.m. that evening, and again at Heritage Circle on Monday, Oct. 19, from noon to 4 p.m., in cooperation with Goodnight Brothers Country Ham.

The new free entertainment follows the America 250 theme. Marc Dobson's One-Man Band plays four shows a day near the Scott Building, and the Americana 250 Band Organ adds old-fashioned carnival music. The Patriotic Light Show runs near Kiddieland in Cotton Park at 6 p.m. and at the top of every hour until 11 p.m.

Getting in has moved, too

If you've used the same parking plan for years, here are the changes from 2025:

1. The GoRaleigh park-and-ride moved to Dix Park. In 2025, shuttles left from Garner Station, behind Goodberry's at 1407 Garner Station Blvd. This year, according to GoRaleigh's State Fair page, they leave from Dix Park Sunflower Field Lot A on Hunt Drive. Nonstop express shuttles run every 30 minutes from 8:30 a.m. until the fair closes and drop riders at Gate 1. Fares are $5 round trip or $4 one way, and half fare for seniors 65 and older and passengers with disabilities. Children under 40 inches ride free. You can pay with cash or the UMO app, but GoPass isn't valid on fair routes.
2. Lenovo Center has one paid parking day instead of four. Parking on State Fair, Carter-Finley and Lenovo Center property is generally free. In 2025, Lenovo Center lots were reserved or paid on four dates. In 2026 the only one is Wednesday, Oct. 21. That's also Military Appreciation Day, so that Wednesday is likely to be one of the busier weekdays for parking.
3. Blue Ridge Road is still closed at the tracks. Blue Ridge Road has been closed on both sides of the railroad tracks just south of Hillsborough Street since October 2022. NCDOT's project page lists June 2027 for completion of the Blue Ridge Road grade separation, and says the road will stay closed until close to that date. That makes this the last fair expected to run with the closure.

Some options haven't changed. The free Bandwidth Dogwood Lot at 4501 Reedy Creek Road has a continuous shuttle to Gate 8. The free Cardinal Lot at 5766 Chapel Hill Road runs a shuttle to Gate 7. Go Durham's free hourly express runs from Durham Station to Gate 1 from 8 a.m. until closing. The official parking page still shows last year's dates next to the satellite-lot hours, so check the times with the fair before you plan around a late shuttle.

The discount days got wider

The fair's special admission days work better for more households this year. A fair spokesperson, Heather Overton, explained the main change to The News & Observer: "College Day used to be Wolfpack Day. We are opening it to all college and community college students."

• College Day, Thursday, Oct. 15. Admission is $8 with a valid student ID for students at any North Carolina college or university, including community colleges.
• Sensory Day, Sunday, Oct. 18.
• Seniors' Day, Tuesday, Oct. 20. Free admission for those 65 and older.
• Military Appreciation Day, Wednesday, Oct. 21. Free admission for military and National Guard members, including veterans, plus three guests. In 2025 the free entry covered one guest.
• Hunger Relief Day, Thursday, Oct. 22. Six qualifying nonperishable food items get one person in free. Last year the day asked specifically for canned goods.

On other days, advance tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for youth through Oct. 15. From Oct. 16 through closing day, gate prices are $13 and $7. Children 5 and under get in free, seniors pay $5 and military admission at the gate is $8. You have to buy admission and enter before 9:45 p.m., and there's no re-entry after that. The fair's September release says online prices will be shown "all-in," with taxes and fees included, but the ticket page also lists a fee on online orders. Check the total at checkout.

Gates have two security checkpoints each. Clear bags of any size go through a faster inspection lane, and opaque bags are searched.

Where the new food fits

The new Midway Event Center is also part of the food story. It's the first fairgrounds building planned to serve food year-round, and this year it holds vendors and seating. The full new-food list runs past 80 items. CBS 17's roundup and WRAL's list name each dish with its vendor. A few that fit this year's North Carolina and America 250 themes:

• Carolina Yam 'n Ham Biscuit and Chicken & Churros from Granny's Country Kitchen
• Cheerwine Fried Corn Ribs and Pickle Cheesecake from Davis Concessions/Mr. Pickle
• NC Poke Bowl from Waypoint Oyster Bar
• Pork Belly Burnt Ends from Fat Boys BBQ
• Sweet Potato S'Mores Slop Bucket from Lawrence & Perry Barbeque
• Cider Donut Delight and Apple Cider Dream from Bright Branch Farms
• Red, White and Birthday Brew from Tiki Tea

One familiar stop is staying where it was. The Cheese Curd Shack, which N&O readers voted the best place to eat at the fair, is serving again near Kiddieland, The News & Observer reported. This year it adds Pimento Cheese Bombs. Kiddieland is also where the Patriotic Light Show runs every hour after 6 p.m.

The fairgrounds is one of several West Raleigh landmarks that shape traffic and weekend plans close by, like Dix Park's growing food scene a short shuttle ride away. If you're weighing how close you want to live to the fairgrounds, Dix Park or the Beltline, Quin Realty Group can explain how those trade-offs work on Raleigh streets. Start with our Raleigh neighborhood guide, or request a free home valuation to see where your own address stands.