Two events snarl traffic around Lenovo Center in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Day three of the North Carolina Fair kicked off on Saturday. But that wasn't the only thing in West Raleigh.

Thousands descended on the area to go to the Sabrina Carpenter concert at the Lenovo Center which backed up traffic in and around the area.

"I didn't know about the fair until someone told me that it's going to be a big deal," said Bobby Wooten, who was in for the concert from New York.

We met Wooten as he was walking down Edwards Mill Road. He arrived at Lenovo for the concert early and was trying to get an Uber to go to Cary before the show started but the ride never came.

ALSO SEE: Guide to NC State Fair 2024: Tickets, transportation, parking, new rides and special event days

It was bumper-to-bumper traffic on Edwards Mill Road Saturday night, as the two big events bogged down traffic for miles.

"We have to get there we have to get there to get a funnel cake, a turkey leg I'm telling you we have to," said fairgoer Nick Taylor.

Nothing was going to stop Taylor and Cassie Coleman from getting to the state fair.

"It's supposed to be a shuttle bus and you have to wait 3 hours for a shuttle bus,' Taylor said. "We decided to make this walk and my legs are having a second thought right now but we going to make it."

Sutton Lamb, Jamie Coniglione, and Gabrielle Paula are students at High Point University. The trio was dropped off by Gabrielle's mom in Raleigh and were later picked up by her too after the Sabrina Carpenter concert at the Lenovo Center.

"Yeah we're so excited...gonna be awesome," they said.

The State Fair said their satellite lots were closed for some part of the afternoon because they got too full. But we saw buses picking people up to take them into the fairgrounds.

"We have been encouraging people coming to the fair to use the Go Raleigh Park and Ride from Triangle Town Center in Raleigh," said a fair spokesperson.

The bus costs $5 and drops people off at Gate 1.

The shuttle will run until the fair closes.

Go Durham is also offering a free shuttle hourly from the Durham station at 515 West Pettigrew St.