Guide to NC State Fair 2025: Tickets, parking, food, new rides, transportation and special events

Fun, food and traffic on first day of the NC State Fair

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The NC State Fair is 11 days of fun, food, and entertainment.

This year's fair promises an exciting lineup of new attractions, including 88 new food options, thrilling rides like the Colossus and Kamikaze, and captivating shows such as a Wild West roping performance.

Alongside these new experiences, fairgoers can enjoy beloved returning acts, special event days, and convenient ticket packages like the Bright Lights and Boots Package, which includes admission and a rodeo ticket.

The NC State Fair is 11 days of fun, food, and entertainment.

Tickets and Dates

The 2025 NC State Fair runs from Thursday, October 16 to Sunday, October 26. You can purchase tickets now online.

There are also two new ticket packages offered this year -- the Bright Lights and Boots Package, which includes an adult Fair admission ticket and a ticket to the rodeo, which is new in 2025 and part of the N.C. State Fair Horse Show lineup.

Click here for the vendor and ride finder

Daily Hours

Thursday, Oct. 16: noon - 11 p.m.
Friday & Saturday Oct. 17 - 18: 9 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Friday & Saturday Oct. 24 - 25: 9 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sunday-Thursday Oct. 19 - 23: 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 26: 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.

You must be inside the gates before 9:45 p.m., and no one will be able to reenter after 9:45 p.m.

Deals and Discounts

Military Discount

Any active-duty service members, reservists, retirees, National Guardsmen and their dependents (ages 13-64) pay only $8 daily at the gate. 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.

See list of accepted ID.

Weekday Lunch Pass Program

You can also take a midday break and enjoy the fair for free! On any weekday, adult visitors can enter the fairgrounds at no cost between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. by using Gates 9 (off Trinity Road) or Gate 1 (off Hillsborough Street).

To participate, purchase a $20 lunch card at the gate (cash only) and explore the variety of fair food vendors, who accept both cash and credit cards. ATMs are available on-site for added convenience.

Be sure to return the lunch card at the same gate by 1:30 p.m. to receive a full cash refund. These lunch cards are valid only on the day of purchase.

New Entertainment

This year's new Wild West-style roping and knife-throwing show by cowboy and world's fastest draw champion Andy Rotz promises "plenty of trick roping, fire, gun slinging, and hold-your-breath moments."

You'll also find new entertainment like the Conjurer Fortune Machine, a live interactive "Zoltar"-style fortune experience, and the return of Cast in Bronze, a Carillon musical performance.

Plus, the Powers Great American Midway is bringing some exciting new rides this year, including the Colossus, The Flip Side, and Kamikaze.

Transportation and Parking

Free parking is available at the State Fair and Carter-Finley Football Stadium, as well as Lenovo Center for most days.

There is also free off-site parking at the Dogwood Lot (4501 Reedy Creek Road) and Cardinal Lot (5766 Chapel Hill Road). These will run Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. until one hour after gates close, and Oct. 17 - 26 from 9 a.m. until one hour after gates close.

Free shuttles, which will run continuously, are available near these lots:

Cardinal Lot: drop-off/pick-up at the new Gate 7 off Youth Center Drive
Dogwood Lot: drop-off/pick-up across Trinity Road at Gate 8

Neighboring residents also frequently convert parts of their property into small parking lots. This is not controlled by the fair.

WATCH | Navigating NC State Fair traffic: Tips

Our Ana Rivera guides you through the best routes and parking options.

AMTRAK will also operate a special train stop right in front of Gate 1 at the fair.

There will be two Park & Ride options. One is a GoRaleigh shuttle that will carry fairgoers to the state fairgrounds from Garner Station at 1407 Garner Station Boulevard. The other is GoDurham that will operate express service from Durham Station on 515 West Pettigrew Street. The round trip cost is $5. For a one-way trip it is $4.

Full information about parking, park and ride locations, and hours can be found here.

Clear Bag Policy

The state fair clear bag policy will continue to be in place this year.

Those who have a clear bag will go through security much quicker. Any size or type of clear bag is acceptable. If you don't have a clear bag, you will go through the bag search line.

Outside food and drink, water bottles, diaper bags with baby/toddler supplies and medications are allowed. Alcoholic beverages, drugs, firearms, knives, brass knuckles, batons and/or weapons of any type are not allowed.

Special Event Days

Senior Citizens' Day - Oct. 21
People ages 65 and older get free admission to the fair.

Starting at 9 a.m., Bojangles' biscuits and coffee will be served on the Dorton Patio near the Waterfall at the Senior Fun Fest. After that, there will be a program with Commissioner Steve Troxler and music at 10 a.m.

Duke Energy Military Appreciation Day - Oct. 23

Military Appreciation Day at the 2025 NC State Fair

The state fair will pay tribute to members of the U.S. Military. There will be a parade in the carnival midway. It will then go through Kiddieland, past the Scott Building and back to the midway.

Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day - Oct. 23

Bring six cans of food to the fair gates and get into the NC State Fair for free!

Hunger Relief Day dates back to 1993 at the fair. Since then, according to their website, fairgoers have donated 6 million pounds of food to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and its partners.

It has become one of the largest one-day canned food drives in the state.

For more information on special event days, visit the NC State Fair website.

The ABC11 Tent will also be at the fair on Thursday. Please stop by and say hello.