Parking, food competition changes announced for NC State Fair
The North Carolina State Fair will only be offering two park and ride shuttle options this year.
The change is due to a driver shortage, according to the state fair website.
Two park and ride options will be available. The Cardinal lot off of Hwy. 54/Chapel Hill Road will provide free shuttle service to a newly opened Gate 7 on the west side of the fairgrounds. Again this year the Dogwood lot near the intersection of Reedy Creek Road and Edwards Mill Road will offer a frees shuttle to Gate 9.
The N.C. State Fair is Oct. 13-23 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. The gates open at noon on Oct. 13. All other days, the fair will open at 9 a.m. - an hour later than previous years. The new time aligns with the exhibition hall opening hours.
The Home Chef Challenge is a new feature of the fair's famous food competitions. There will be a different special cooking contest each day. Chefs have until Oct. 3 to register to compete.
Here are a list of categories:
- Oct. 13 - 4 p.m.: Loaded Nachos Challenge presented by NC State Basketball’s Primetime with the Pack
- Oct. 14, 10 a.m.: Brownie Showdown presented by Humana
- Oct. 15, 10 a.m.: Spirited Pie Challenge presented by the Distillers Association of North Carolina
- Oct. 16, 2 p.m.: Great Bowls of Fire Chili Cook-Off presented by Carolina Cooker
- Oct. 17, 10 a.m.: Morning Mayhem Buster: Make-Ahead Breakfast Challenge presented by Superior Sleep Experience
- Oct. 18, 11 a.m.: Brain Food Healthy Grain Bowl Challenge presented by Wegmans
- Oct. 19, 10 a.m. Tip Top Sirloin Salad Challenge
- Oct. 20, 10 a.m.: Bacontastic Fair Food Challenge with junior and adult divisions presented by the NC Pork Council
- Oct. 21, 10 a.m.: Not Your Mama's Chicken Casserole Challenge presented by House of Raeford
- Oct. 22, 10 a.m.: Duke Cancer Care in Wake County Celebrates Cancer Warriors Challenge presented by Duke Raleigh Hospital
- Oct. 23, 10 a.m.: Quirky Cobbler Challenge
In addition to food competitions the state fair has also added ink pen decorated seashells and artwork inspired floral arrangements to its competition category list. The decorated Christmas tree category returns this year as well. Look for that in the north lobby of Dorton Arena.
