© 2024 WFAE
90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Photos: After COVID hiatus, the North Carolina State Fair is back

 Near the end of the state fair's opening night, a colorful cotton candy vendor stands alone.
Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC
Near the end of the state fair's opening night, a colorful cotton candy vendor stands alone.

Turkey legs hover over smokers, Oreos are plunged into vats of oil and kids whirl around on classic rides.

After a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Carolina State Fair is back on in Raleigh.

Opening night — which coincided with the season-opener for the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team, creating a traffic frenzy — was Oct. 14. The first-night crowd was modest, but lines for food that can only be had at fairs, like caramel apples and overstuffed steak sandwiches, ran long with hungry attendees. Some wore masks and some didn't; the fair isn't mandating them. The festivities will run through Oct. 24.

WUNC went out to the fair on opening night and captured the atmosphere in photos.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

Near the beginning of the night, a game vendor makes sure he's stocked up on toys for eager kids that might show up.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

A woman and a man ride across the night sky in Raleigh on The State Fair Flyer.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

The Ferris wheel remains a popular and bright attraction at the state fair.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

Two ponies take breaks between giving rides to children at the state fair.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

Six-year-old Jax Brady takes a ride down the slide. With a short line, this was one of many trips he took.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

One fairgoer happily marches away after acquiring roasted corn on the cob.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

A young girl eagerly awaits the giant frosted blue donut she's ordered.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

A cook stands over his collection of simmering sausages.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

Chocolate and peanut butter, battered, deep fried and covered in powdered sugar. What could be better?

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

A state fair staple: turkey legs, smoked low and slow.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

One young woman tries her luck at the pop-a-shot.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

A vendor drowns a funnel cake in powdered sugar.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

Competitors in the water gun race await for a winner to be crowned.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

Fried, bite-size curds from the Hot Wisconsin Cheese stand were a popular snack.

Mitchell Northam
/
WUNC

Things wind down near the end of the night at Smitty's Apples.
Copyright 2021 North Carolina Public Radio. To see more, visit North Carolina Public Radio.

Mitchell Northam