On a budget? Save money at the NC State Fair this year
Advance ride tickets can also be purchased and at various retail locations. The fair is offering a special priced sheet of 18 ride tickets for $10.
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NC State Fair admission
Advance tickets for adults are $10, compared with $13 at the gate, and tickets for children ages 6 to 12 tickets are $5, compared with $7 at the gate. Kids under 6 get inside the fair for free.
Advance ride tickets can also be purchased online. The fair is offering a specially priced sheet of 18 ride tickets for $10.
There are some special dates people can get into the fair for either a discount or no cost:
- Daily military discount: Active-duty service members, reservists, retirees, National Guardsmen and their dependents (ages 13-64) pay only $8 daily at the gate each day of the NC State Fair.
- Thursday, Oct. 12: $8 admission for N.C. State students who show ID card
- Tuesday, Oct. 17: Free admission for seniors 65 and older
- Thursday, Oct. 19: Free admission for anyone who brings 6 cans of food
Save on NC State Fair rides
- Discount $30 unlimited ride wristbands are on sale through Oct. 12.
- Unlimited ride wristbands cost $40 after Oct. 12.
- Each wristband will be valid for one day only during the 2023 N.C. State Fair.
General tickets cost $1 per ride ticket. Children’s rides are typically 2 to 3 tickets each, and larger rides range from 3 to 6 tickets each. That means one adult could get about 8 rides in before the unlimited wristband pays for itself.
People who buy the wristband vouchers online in advance can redeem them at Ride Ticket Plazas located near Gates 7, 8 and 9 or front of Dorton Arena. Look for the neon green tents with stars on top.
Save on NC State Fair Flyer
The NC State Fair Flyer can get you from one side of the fair to the other, but it requires a different kind of ticket.
Discount tickets for the NC State Fair Flyer cost $6 (one-way) or $9 (round-trip) through Oct. 12. After Oct. 12, the tickets cost $7 and $10.
What's free at the NC State Fair?
Families can also save money by taking advantage of some of the free entertainment at the fair.
- Hog Diggity Dogs, and More! - Near Gate 10
- Agri-cadabra: The Magic of Agriculture - Near the Administration Building at the end of Kiddieland
- Casey's Clubhouse - Kiddieland: Magic shows and clown acts
- Dale Jones, One-Handed Juggler - North Dorton Arena Patio
- The Birdman: World Class Bird Shows - Near Gate 7
- Brad Comedy Hypnosis Show - Waterfall Stage
- Ember Fire Arts - Heritage Circle
- Fire Safety Show - Coastal Credit Union Family Fun Zone at Cotton Park
- Melody Farm Follies - Agri Supply Exposition Center Breezeway
- Heritage Circle Bluegrass & Folk Stage: Click for schedule
- The Live and Local Waterfall Music Stage: Click for schedule
- Southland Dairy Farmers Mobile Milking Classroom - between Graham Building and Expo Center
- Rock-It the Robot will be roaming Kiddieland
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