Your N.C. State Fair bucket list

The North Carolina State Fair is 10 days of food, rides and fun. With so much happening, we came up with your ultimate bucket list of things you need to do at the fair this year.

1. Take a ride on the State Fair Flyer, a permanent attraction that takes riders 40 feet high above the fairgrounds. Note: The State Fair Flyer requires a special ticket.

2. Eat Al's Fries. Always served hot, they are a favorite of WRAL's Ken Smith. "I don’t know what they put in that oil but whatever it is, I am hooked. There’s nothing like Al’s fries, hot right out of the fryer. Throw a dash or two or three of hot sauce on them and you are in fries heaven!"

3. Visit the Our State Public House for N.C. craft beer and wine samples (for those 21 years and older). In its second year, the public house in Heritage Circle showcases 40 breweries and 40 wineries from across the state. Each tasting flight will contain four samples of wine or beer. Tickets are $10 and there is a one ticket per person limit.

4. Visit the Folk Festival at Dorton Arena. Talented dancers and musicians from across North Carolina will be competing throughout the fair for the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Trophy, awarded to the individual or group that best exemplifies the state's musical heritage.

5. Eat a deep fried candy bar, Twinkie, Moon Pie or whatever else floats your boat. It isn't a State Fair without something sweet and deep fried.

6. Fill up on free samples at the administrative building by Gate 11. Make sure to get some honey cotton candy and a muscadine slushie while you are there too.

7. See a concert during the Homegrown Music Series. American Aquarium, Rhett and Link and Who's Bad are on the bill for this year's free music series at Dorton Arena.

8. Stop by the WRAL tent near Dorton Arena and the Midway to meet your favorite anchors and reporters.

9. Get a giant turkey leg or an ostrich leg if that's what you prefer.

10. Get some bacon on a stick. Seriously, maple bacon on a stick from Bubba's Bacon is one of our favorite snacks.

11. Ride the carousel. No matter how old you are, the carousel is a classic.

12. Take your shot at the turkey shoot. Put on some earphones and try to win a turkey.

13. Get a bucket of cookies and a glass of milk. The Cookies and Milk stand is one of our favorite vendors. It is located near the Turkey Shoot.

14. Eat roasted corn. It isn't a State Fair without it!

15. See the Circle C Racing Pigs. These piglets really know how to run. See them daily near Gate 10.

16. Take a trip to the past at the Village of Yesteryear. Tons of year vendors at this annual attraction.

17. Get some N.C. State ice cream. Some of the best around!

18. Take a walk to see Smokey the Bear near Heritage Circle. He is huge!

19. Got to Kiddieland and get a selfie with fair mascot Casey Cardinal.

20. Head to the Education building to see the competition winners and shop some fun vendors, including Miss Debbie's Specialty Apples. She covers apples in chocolate, candy, caramel and more.

21. Check out the Got to Be NC vendors, outside of the administrative building near Gate 11. There are always great local vendors with free samples. Plus that's usually where Lumpy's and Two Roosters ice creams have booths.

22. Visit the FFA's Children's Barnyard. Located not far from N.C. State ice cream, this place is filled with cute animals including bunnies, chickens, goats and cows.

23. See what's happening at the N.C. Wildlife exhibit. A great place to bring your children, this area offers some education and information, plus usually an animal or two to see.

24. Honor those who have served our country on Military Appreciation Day on Wednesday, Oct. 17. The 440th Army Band will perform throughout the day and there will be a huge parade through the Midway.

25. Bring five cans of food to the fair on Thursday, Oct. 18, and get into the fair for free. Food Lion Hunger Relief Day helps benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

26. Get a great view of the fair from the top of The Giant Ferris Wheel in Kiddieland outside Gate 13. It offers one of the best views of the fairgrounds.

27. Get barbecue at Old North State Kitchen. Located near Gate 1, this tent has great barbecue and even Cheerwine cake.

28. Get a funnel cake from The Gobblin Gourmet. This stand sells gourmet funnel cakes like pecan praline and salted caramel, maple bacon.

29. Get your carb fix at the La Farm Bakery Truck - which is offering a new Bacon S'more this year. WRAL's Amanda Lamb said this is her favorite spot to get food at the fair. "They just started coming a few years ago, and it is always my go-to for lunch," she said.

30. Get your barbecue fix with the BBQ Sundae at the Pik-n-Pig in Kiddieland. "Look no further than the log cabin that sells BBQ! The BBQ SUNDAE from Pik N Pig out of Carthage is an annual favorite! Layers of baked beans, tender BBQ and a topping of cole slaw makes it my top pick," WRAL reporter Sloane Heffernan said.

31. Check out some real lumberjacks at work behind Heritage Circle in the N.C. Forestry Service area. The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show features lumberjacks throwing axes, crosscut sawing, chainsaw carving, chainsaw safety and log rolling.

32. Watch a guy wrestle a man-eating reptile. The Kachunga & the Alligator Show features a real reptile at Gate 1 daily.

33. Take time to smell the roses at the Flower and Garden Show near the Village of Yesteryear and Heritage Circle. Enjoy beautiful displays and demos from The Fruit Carving Ninja.

34. Head to the Grandstand to see the Canine Stars dog agility show. It is free admission.

35. Go to the Exposition Center to see a collection of animals and some giant prize winning pumpkins and watermelons.

36. Get a little taste of Louisiana at the Ragin Cajun stand near the grandstand. They have alligator on a stick and fried crawfish.

37. Take the kids to visit Read-A-Roo at the UNC TV exhibit, located outside of Dorton Arena.

38. Want to try something different than traditional fair food? Neomonde is serving up fresh Mediterranean cuisine including chickpea fries. Also check out Area ​Loca. The Raleigh-based family business voted the best new vendor at the N.C. State Fair media luncheon last year. Located across from the giant slide in Kiddieland, they serves arepas, sandwich pockets made using ground corn and stuffed with veggie, beef, chicken or pork.

39. Get a deep-fried brownie sundae at Chef D'Lites, an orange trailer across from the grandstand.

40. Make plans to stay late and watch the fireworks, which are held daily at 9:45 p.m.