Hikers visit Dry Falls in Franklin County.

Put ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until puffed and golden. Remove from oven, and let stand for 5 minutes. With a flexible spatula, remove strata to

Travel

A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

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Food

Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

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History

A Brief History of the North Carolina State Fair

From Ferris wheels to funnel cakes, this timeline highlights 172 years of food and fun.

by
People riding rides at the North Carolina State Fair

1853

The first North Carolina State Fair, held on 16 acres near New Bern Avenue in Raleigh, lasted four days. In the early years, foods were mostly preserves, pies, cakes, and smoked meats, entered for exhibitions rather than as concessions.

1873

The fair moves to a new, larger location on Hillsborough Street.

1879

The first North Carolina State Colored Industrial Association Fair opens in Raleigh to promote Black industry and education. The event hosted agricultural and industrial displays, parades, and speeches until its final run in 1930.

1884

It’s electric! Power comes to the fair.

1891

The first ride, the Switchback Railway roller coaster, is built, signaling a new focus on amusement.

1895

The main attraction of the year? Chicken incubators.

1900

Churches and civic groups open the first food booths and sell homemade goods.

1916

Cary United Methodist Church introduces its ham biscuit, kicking off a tradition that fed generations of hungry visitors until the booth shut down in 2022.

1928

The fair moves to its current location on Blue Ridge Road.

1930s

The modern midway opens with the fair’s first carnival-style attractions.

1950

A “Fair of the Future” model on display in the main hall unveils plans for a new coliseum — eventually named the J.S. Dorton Arena — which would open two years later.

1949

Charlie Barefoot begins selling foot-long hot dogs — Bright Leaf, of course.

1957

One of the year’s most popular exhibits, “Know the Meats You Buy,” educates fairgoers on cuts of beef, pork, and lamb.

1965

White and Black 4-H groups compete together for the first time.

1978

The NC State Food Science Club serves its first ice cream cone.

1985

The Whole Hog Barbecue Championship is introduced. Willis Peaden and Jim Elder from Havelock take home the blue ribbon.

2019

The “largest traveling Ferris wheel in North America,” the SkyGazer, debuts. It towers 155 feet above the fairgrounds, and riders take in views of more than 15 miles from its peak.

2020

The pandemic cancels the in-person fair, but drive-through and walk-up food booths dish out favorites like funnel cakes and turkey legs.

2025

This year’s fair runs 10 days, from October 16 to 26. On weekdays, visitors can enjoy free lunchtime admission from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Photo credits: Geoff Wood, State Archives of North Carolina, Justin Kase Conder

This story was published on Sep 29, 2025

Tess Allen

Tess Allen is an assistant editor at Our State.