Deep fried BBQ, Rice Krispy treats among new fair foods

The North Carolina State Fair will have a variety of new treats to dine on this year.

Posted 4:36 p.m. Oct 13, 2014 — Updated 6:49 p.m. Jul 13, 2018

RALEIGH, N.C. — Deep fried candy bars wrapped in bacon and Krispy Kreme doughnut covered apples are among the new foods at the North Carolina State Fair this year.

Members of the media got a preview of the new items during a lunch at Dorton Arena in Raleigh on Monday.

The full rundown of new foods:

Chef's D'Lites will be serving up Deep Fried Mini Cupcakes.
Murphy House has the Twinx - a Twix bar stuffed into a Twinkie, wrapped in bacon, then deep fried
Ragin Cajun, which specializes in Louisiana-inspired cuisine, will have deep fried Banana's Foster topped with vanilla ice cream.
Chester's Gators and Taters is deep frying Rice Krispy Treats.
Miss Debbie's Specialty Apples, a fan favorite at the fair, will have Krispy Kreme doughnut apples.
S2 Concessions will be serving Red Velvet mini doughnuts.
Colgazier Enterprises, a new vendor this year, will be serving Sirloin Tips.
Tropical Delights, also a new vendor, will have Pineapple drinks.
Party in a Pita will have several new hand pies (Spinach Feta, Tomato and Olive, Three Cheese, Meat and more).
State Fair Concessions will have Deep Fried Barbecue on a Stick.
La Farm Bakery will be serving up Piedmont pimento cheese sandwiches and Piedmont BLTs on their Piedmont Sourdough and White Chocolate Baguettes on a stick and drizzled with Belgian chocolate. La Farm will have their bread truck parked outside the Agriculture Today exhibit near Gate 1.

In addition to the food, the State Fair has partnered with the N.C. Horse Council to celebrate the "Year of the Horse" with more educational and entertaining equine events at the fair.

"Fairgoers can see firsthand the exciting diversity of North Carolina's horse industry through spectator events, five-minute horseback riding lessons, horsemanship shows and the horse shows," State Fair Manager Wesley Wyatt said.

Rides and performers

Powers Great American Midways announced that there will be several new rides hitting the fairgrounds this year. The Chaos will flip riders 360 degrees, while the Comet II is a roller coaster that features fast speeds and quick drops.

The Spin Zone Ride, a kid-friendly option, includes a bumper car with circles that spin around. And the Delusion flips riders high through the air.

New performers this year include:

Neon Anteaters - These purple and blue creatures are quadruped stilt walkers that will be roaming the fairgrounds. They will be doling out “slurpy kisses” at the flower show during their daily strolls.
Izzie - This face-painting fairy will be moving around on her bicycle dragon, Glitter, and stopping to tell stories in Kiddieland.
Tumbleweed Crossing Wild West Show - This special effects show will feature student performances and comedy gun-fight scenes. It will be located near the rabbit barn and will perform daily at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, a 10 a.m. show will be added.
The Farmer Phil Show - These shows, held daily in Kiddieland Fun Park, include juggling, yo-yo and magic routines while teaching audiences of all ages a little about farmers and agriculture.
Roberto the Magnificent - Earning a silver medal at the World Juggling Championships at age 15, Roberto has been entertaining audiences with his comedy show for more than 20 years. You can see him performing daily on the north side of Dorton Arena.
Down to Earth Aerials - This group dazzles fairgoers with high-flying feats on the north Dorton Arena lawn. This show feature twists, turns and heart-stopping stunts.
Brad Matchett - This comedy hypnotist returns with more shows this year. He will perform nightly at 7:30 p.m. in the Folk Festival tent, with an additional 9 p.m. show on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. This family-friendly hypnotist show is often held to standing-room only crowds.

Roaming acts will also include: Popping Penelope doing her balloon act in front of the Expo Center; stilt-walking by Zachari; Walking Tree Man; and Living Statues.

Other returning favorites include: The One Man Band, Kenya Safari Acrobats, K-9s in Flight, Fire Safety Show, Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Sensations, Dale Jones Juggler, Circle C Racing Pigs and Melvin the Wacky Wheeler.

And make sure to check out the nightly fireworks show at 9:45 p.m.

Military Day events

On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the State fair will celebrate those who have served in the U.S. armed forces during Military Appreciation Day, sponsored by the N.C. Education Lottery. Active-duty service members, reservists, retirees, National Guardsmen and their dependents (ages 13-64) will be admitted to the fair for $5 at the gate that day. The first 3,000 people through the gates that day will receive a small American flag. At 11 a.m., there will a parade honoring the military followed by performances by the 440th Army from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the waterfall stage.

Exhibits

New at N.C. State Fair this year: Learn how to ride a horse during a 5-minute lesson.

Head to the north lobby of Dorton Arena for a new exhibit honoring North Carolina’s involvement in World War I. Historians in uniform will be on hand to answer questions.

The Ag Today tent on the south side of Dorton Arena will show the latest in precision agriculture, including an unmanned aerial vehicle.

The Hunt Horse Complex will celebrate the Year of the Horse with a full schedule of events, including headline shows, a parade of breeds and free, five-minute riding lessons.

The N.C. State Fair is Thursday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 26. All grounds entertainment and exhibits are free with admission to the fair. Advance tickets for the fair are on sale now.

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