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Published: 2010-10-16 09:35:00
Updated: 2010-10-16 20:41:39

State Fair busts 17-year-old attendance record


state fair 2010
state fair 2010
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The 2010 North Carolina State Fair set new attendance records on both its preview day and opening day.

State Fair spokesman Brian Long said that 77,485 people came through gates Friday, breaking a previous record set in 1993.

On Thursday, 47,677 visitors came to the fair, despite some rain showers and chill breezes. That outpaces the attendance numbers of 37,932 in 2009 and 35,215 in 2008.

Since 2008, the State Fair has opened its gates from 3 p.m. to midnight on the Thursday before the official start of the fair.

  • Web Editor: Anne Johnson

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unbelievable! as I travel to work on the morning after an event that draws so many people out and see not just litter but seriously trash everywhere! along our roadways and even in various parking lots that companies so graciously allow you to use! I find it hard to tolerate and find it just downright disgusting that people just have no respect for the earth they live in! in this day and age of (apparently not all) everyone trying to be eco friendly and recycling everywhere, there are still quite a few people that believe its still okay to just throw their trash anywhere they feel like it, even if there are fines clearly posted and just anywhere they happen to drive by. plastic water bottles, glass beer bottles, aluminum beer and soda cans and styrofoam cups for that milkshake you had just do not recycle themselves left out in beside the roadways or tossed into forest areas! and cigarette butts are also not biodegradable! our public still has no conscience apparently and just do not c

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WRAL at the NC State Fair on Twitter
  1. NCStateFair: Check out photos on our FB page from the @ValorGamesSE. Or even better, come on out and cheer them on: http://t.co/kBu303SE9L
      — Thursday, May 23, 2013 11:11 AM
  2. NCStateFair: Come support our wounded/injured military as they compete in the final day of the @valorgamesse at the fairgrounds.
      — Thursday, May 23, 2013 8:05 AM
  3. NCStateFair: RT @valorgamesse: Events at Duke are winding down, but come join us tomorrow at the NC State Fairgrounds for the last day of #valorgames!
      — Wednesday, May 22, 2013 2:42 PM
  4. NCStateFair: The Blue Book Network Showcase is taking place in the Scott Building this afternoon from 3 to 7 pm. http://t.co/Zt9MdLEaUy
      — Wednesday, May 22, 2013 12:02 PM
  5. NCStateFair: Check out our photos in the new Flickr layout. Much easier to navigate! http://t.co/XoanjHMIz7
      — Wednesday, May 22, 2013 10:14 AM
  6. NCStateFair: RT @valorgamesse: Updated schedule for #ValorGamesSoutheast: http://t.co/5Ujy4VQqcQ . Come cheer these heroes, #ChapelHill #Durham #Raleigh.
      — Tuesday, May 21, 2013 4:44 PM
  7. NCStateFair: Our PR intern started today. Welcome to the #DeepFriedCrew, @RebTodd! You're in for an interesting summer!
      — Monday, May 20, 2013 3:57 PM
  8. NCStateFair: Looking forward to hosting the final day of the Valor Games on Thursday. Plan to come cheer on our wounded warriors! http://t.co/kbtWt31R2W
      — Monday, May 20, 2013 3:03 PM
  9. NCStateFair: RT @eeelishalynn: I spy a smiling competitor! http://t.co/kPHULokTHc @NCAgriculture @NCStateFair
      — Monday, May 20, 2013 2:53 PM
  10. NCStateFair: 5 months away! RT @wraloutandabout: Great pics from this weekend's Got to Be NC! We are kinda ready for the fair now! http://t.co/cUfr1dDihk
      — Monday, May 20, 2013 2:37 PM
  11. NCStateFair: We've got blue skies and beach music on the outdoor music stage at the #GottobeNC Festival.
      — Sunday, May 19, 2013 3:08 PM
  12. NCStateFair: Rain has forced us to cancel the lawnmower and garden tractor pull at the #GotToBeNCFestival. But there's still plenty to see and do.
      — Sunday, May 19, 2013 2:23 PM
  13. NCStateFair: The @transjambmx competition is going on in Dorton Arena with a park course, flatland and ramp contests. Check it out and stay dry!
      — Sunday, May 19, 2013 1:35 PM
  14. NCStateFair: Don't let the threat of rain keep you away from the fairgrounds today. There's plenty to do, so come on out! http://t.co/YnzyQipGD3
      — Sunday, May 19, 2013 10:36 AM
  15. NCStateFair: RT @jennix5: Stop by Dorton Arena and check out the classic cars at the Got to Be NC Festival at the @NCStateFair http://t.co/OO9qRTTScP
      — Friday, May 17, 2013 3:44 PM
  16. NCStateFair: The 2013 State Fair kicks off in 5 months, so we're hosting a party, @NCAgriculture-style! Come join us! http://t.co/rFCDkkMnGZ
      — Friday, May 17, 2013 11:22 AM
  17. NCStateFair: RT @amranshriners: Amran mobile kitchen is ready for the Got To Be NC Festival at the Fairgrounds. Come see us today. http://t.co/4SHALfohe3
      — Friday, May 17, 2013 10:36 AM
  18. NCStateFair: RT @WahlHome: Watch out @ncstatefair the @wahltrimmers mobile barber shop is giving free facial hair trims this weekend #GottoBeNCFestival
      — Thursday, May 16, 2013 7:12 PM
  19. NCStateFair: RT @relisheveryday: Our plans for this wknd? Of course it's @NCAgriculture #GottobeNC Festival @NCStateFair. We are in the food & Wine Expo.
      — Thursday, May 16, 2013 3:13 PM
  20. NCStateFair: Today is the Peace Officers Memorial Day. We salute our law enforcement partners! http://t.co/vXUEFAJE6l
      — Wednesday, May 15, 2013 5:40 PM
  21. wral_at_fair: New blog post: 2012 State Fair ends on a high note http://t.co/6RTC9l4p
      — Sunday, October 21, 2012 9:30 PM
  22. wral_at_fair: New blog post: Village of Yesteryear Adopts Future of Commerce http://t.co/S5njvjid
      — Saturday, October 20, 2012 9:33 AM
  23. wral_at_fair: ICYMI here's the recipe for that blue-ribbon pie: http://t.co/LlU2HYm8 #ncfair
      — Saturday, October 20, 2012 9:00 AM
  24. wral_at_fair: I like this idea! RT @maljr12 @wral let's put early voting polls at the state fair in 2016 #2birds1stone
      — Friday, October 19, 2012 3:38 PM
  25. wral_at_fair: New blog post: State Fair collects 213,000 cans of food for the hungry http://t.co/PwrJOfWZ
      — Friday, October 19, 2012 3:36 PM
  26. wral_at_fair: New blog post: Taste Test: Pumpkin Funnel Cake http://t.co/OefWVCxY
      — Friday, October 19, 2012 1:54 PM
  27. wral_at_fair: New blog post: New Contest Shows NC Goodness and Creativity Growing Together http://t.co/oEN2Vy7U
      — Friday, October 19, 2012 11:09 AM
  28. wral_at_fair: RT @ResearchBuzz Using the iPhone camera to make the most of the State Fair: http://t.co/LC7dyMBz
      — Friday, October 19, 2012 10:26 AM
  29. wral_at_fair: New blog post: Taste Test -- Philly Cheesesteak Eggroll http://t.co/CieLTi9M
      — Thursday, October 18, 2012 5:57 PM
  30. wral_at_fair: New blog post: iPhoning It In at the Fair http://t.co/4hwM5pZV
      — Thursday, October 18, 2012 2:00 PM
  31. wral_at_fair: New blog post: Really Angry Birds: Now with Guns http://t.co/h2TlSRJW
      — Wednesday, October 17, 2012 6:00 PM
  32. wral_at_fair: New blog post: Playing games at the NC State Fair http://t.co/Cd10mKDq
      — Tuesday, October 16, 2012 7:45 PM
  33. wral_at_fair: Great pic! RT @LaurieTMiller Enjoyed meeting @KenSmithTV from @wral Very nice guy. http://t.co/UFQ3Iwhm
      — Tuesday, October 16, 2012 7:08 PM
  34. wral_at_fair: Did you see Deb's sit-down with @ScottyMcCreery? http://t.co/oIR9WjUW
      — Tuesday, October 16, 2012 6:37 PM
  35. wral_at_fair: New blog post: Taste Test: Deep Fried Pumpkin Pie and Deep Fried Key Lime Pie http://t.co/MJZFS9Fa
      — Tuesday, October 16, 2012 6:27 PM
  36. wral_at_fair: We got your @scottymccreery right here: http://t.co/TZzmMJco
      — Monday, October 15, 2012 9:57 PM
  37. wral_at_fair: New blog post: Soggy and screaming, fans greet Scotty http://t.co/ZfIWOkog
      — Monday, October 15, 2012 9:48 PM
  38. wral_at_fair: Great to see you ! RT @ArapahoeNation The crew gave us a big How How! @wral http://t.co/J5lvk0JU
      — Monday, October 15, 2012 5:28 PM
  39. wral_at_fair: New blog post: Taste Test: Deep-Fried Girl Scout Cookies http://t.co/FdmtXd1A
      — Monday, October 15, 2012 5:00 AM
  40. wral_at_fair: New blog post: State Fair hopes to prevent E. coli outbreak http://t.co/XP2WKQmn
      — Sunday, October 14, 2012 4:45 PM

Follow: WRAL_at_Fair | NCStateFair

NC State Fair Videos

 
  • Former state Agriculture Commissioner Jim Graham was Mr. State Fair. He oversaw and improved the fair, which ended its 10-day run…

  • Margalit Mermelstein of Raleigh shares her award-winning Super Sour Super Novas cookie recipe.

  • Dempsey Means is calm, cool and collected. That's how the veteran State Fair supervisor is described. He handles the chaos of the…

  • Duane Raver of Garner is a highly acclaimed wildlife artist who has been a fixture at the Village of Yesteryear at the North Carolina…

  • Jennifer Caslin, from the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, talks with WRAL News about the importance of Hunger Relief…

  • Tim Trudgeon, of Mocksville in Davie County, is a pumpkin carver who demonstrates his amazing craft at the North Carolina State Fair.…

  • WRAL's Brian Shrader is live at the State Fair and explains road closures designed to ease fair traffic this weekend.

  • Matthew Varnadoe and Brian Long share which of the fried foods have been the biggest sellers at the 2012 NC State Fair.

  • Michael Shaffer is the "tree man" at the North Carolina State Fair.

  • The Army Ground Forces Band serenades fair-goers outside the WRAL News tent at the State Fair Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012.

  • Winners of the Incredible Edible Egg contest provide recipes for taste-testing on the WRAL News.

  • This is the 59th year of the brick-laying competition at the fair.

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