Bye cotton candy, hello beer: NC State Fair allows alcohol sales

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Thursday, August 31, 2017
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RALEIGH (WTVD) -- For the first time, fairgoers will be able to consume more than just funnel cakes and cotton candy at the NC State Fair, they'll be able to have a glass of wine too!

Since the fair started in 1853, alcohol was not on the list of approved event goodies.

And even now, fair officials are keeping a close eye on alcohol sales - people won't be able to bring in their own drinks, and liquor won't be available inside fair grounds.

Instead, organizers are teaming up with N.C. Craft Brewers Guild and the N.C. Wine and Grape Council to showcase 40 breweries and 40 wineries from across the state.

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Whoopie pies from La Farm Bakery, located near Gate 2
N.C. State Fair

Samples will be held inside of the Our State Public House in Heritage Circle; daily offerings will include several different styles of craft beer and wine.

For $10, each wine or beer tasting flight will contain four different samples.

View a full list of flights here.

During the fair, tickets will be sold from 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The fair will be October 12-22. For more details or to buy tickets, visit their website.

In 2016, over 1 million people visited the fair; officials expect that number to increase in 2017.