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The North Carolina State Fair opens this afternoon at 3 p.m. for preview day. Today the emphasis is on the rides and attendees can purchase a ride wristband for $28 and enjoy unlimited rides.
Seniors 65 and older and kids 5 and younger are free
Military ID $6
2015 NC State Fair
Tuesday, Oct. 20 – Senior Citizens Day
While seniors age 65 and over get in free every day of the Fair, on
Tuesday, Oct. 20, they can also enjoy a free Bojangles breakfast and entertainment at the Senior Citizen Fun Festival. The event will take place in Dorton Arena from 9 to 11 a.m.
Parking and handicap parking will be available in Carter Finley Stadium (Gate A). Trams will be available to move fairgoers from the parking lot to Dorton Arena. Look for specially designated trams with Senior Day banners. Buses may drop off passengers at Gate 1, the closest gate to all the activities in Dorton Arena!
Wednesday, Oct. 21 – North Carolina Education Lottery Military Appreciation Day
The N.C. State Fair will pay tribute to members of the U.S. Military for their service to the country on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The first 3,000 people through the gates will receive a 4″ x 6″ United States flag.
Join us for the Military Appreciation Parade at 11 a.m. Starting in the midway, the parade will make its way up to Dorton Arena, through Kiddieland toward Gate 11 and then back down through the Midway.
Be sure to check out all the military displays at the Grandstand. Say hello and show your support to YOUR North Carolina National Guard as they display many types of military equipment. Get up and close to a real Abrams Main Battle Tank, a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, a Heavy Equipment Truck, Mini-C-130 Aircraft and much more, all located at the Grandstand area until 6 p.m.
Military Appreciation Day
Waterfall Stage Activity Schedule
Noon – Military Appreciation Day Program
1 p.m. – 440th Army Band
2 p.m – Historical Uniform Revue presented by the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources
4 p.m. – 440th Army Band
6 p.m. – 440th Army Band
Daily Military Discount
Active-duty service members, reservists, retirees, National Guardsmen and their dependents (ages 13-64) pay only $6 daily at the gate. That’s a 44% discount! Proper identification (outlined below) must be presented at the ticket window to receive this discount. One valid identification is required per discounted ticket.
Additionally, veterans are offered the same discount for themselves, plus one discounted ticket for a guest or dependent, for a total of two tickets at the reduced rate. Proper identification (outlined below) must be presented at the ticket window to receive this discount.
This offer is not available online or in advance. You must present proper identification at the ticket window to receive this discount. A valid identification must be presented for each discounted ticket.
Identification accepted for discount:
- Valid Uniformed Services ID
- Valid Common Access Card (CAC)
- Valid North Carolina Driver’s License with Veteran Designation
- Valid Veteran’s Affairs Health Identification Card
- Photocopy of valid DD-214 Form
- Photocopy of valid NGB-22 Form
Thursday, Oct. 22 – Food Lion Hunger Relief Day & Join The Light As We Host “A Night Of Praise”
Fairgoers can bring five cans of Food Lion brand food to the N.C. State Fair on Thursday, Oct. 22, to exchange for one free admission ticket.
Food Lion Hunger Relief Day at the Fair is one of the largest one-day canned-food drives in the state, held each year to benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Since 1993, more than 4.3 million pounds of food have been donated by fairgoers.
The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina will distribute the cans to needy people and hunger-relief agencies in a 34-county area surrounding Raleigh, as well as with Second Harvest Food Banks in other regions, such as Fayetteville, Winston-Salem and Elizabeth City.
Food Bank volunteers and employees of Food Lion and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will exchange cans for Fair tickets.
7:30 PM A Night of Praise featuring Wake Chapel Choir, Instrument of Praise Gospel Concert Chorale, and Watts Chapel Concert Choir
