NC State Fair! (Apex, Turkey: appointed, school, fencing)

[dansdrive]

OK who went to the fair this past weekend? I was surprised on the light crowd their on Saturday. Usually on the weekend there are so many people that when you go to get your wallet out to pay for something you discover you have the person next to you wallet! Not this year, was able to walk around without the normal real crowded areas being all that real crowded. Also, seemed to have fewer rides this year and many more food stands.

Still had a fun time! What was your experiences at the fair this year?

[ProjectE]

I am going this Sunday and I couldn't be more excited.

I am glad there are more food stands, thats the only reason I go!

[lamishra]

We're going today! Hope it's still not too crowded like you mentioned!

[CajunWon]

Going today! Hoping everyone uses pubic transportation to the fair, since I always drive.

imo: the reason the weekend crowd may have been lite. The roads were packed with weekend travelers between NC & VA, perhaps due to both the recent gas price decline as well as the $.50-.60 difference in the NC/VA prices (only $.15 differential now). Even my trusted back-roads to Lynchburg had 4x normal traffic (normally I'm the only car on those roads).

[LRoyal10900]

I went Sunday and we were NOT there by ourselves!! It was ridiculously crowded!!!

[GarnerMama]

Originally Posted by LRoyal10900

I went Sunday and we were NOT there by ourselves!! It was ridiculously crowded!!!

I agree! Sunday was crazy. The area in between the grandstand and the food areas were so crowded you couldn't walk. We took our preschoolers and the children's areas were crazy. We paid $10 to park because we had to be a little close for the kids. I usually go on a weekday morning and ride the bus, this year we did it the husbands way...not again! Nonetheless, we had a good time. My sons got to hold baby chicks and ducks in the chicken tent. I I think that was the highlight of their day. They rode lots of rides and DH and I ate way too much. I think the food was priced pretty well. Not too expensive. I brought a backpack with drinks an snacks for the kids.

[arsbadmojo]

I've been to 2 big state fairs in my lifetime; Ohio State Fair and now the North Carolina State fair.

Both are big, both are crowded - I like the Ohio State Fair much better overall.

North Carolina has one thing going for it; October is much better than August. It was really nice not to be so hot and sweaty, having to get drinks every 10 minutes.

Things that sucked:

* OSF has way more agricultural content/exhibits.
* Too hard to get around! Portable fencing used to make it maze-like.
* OSF has better commercial buildings.
* OSF has the giant slide.
* OSF has more space to breathe.
* I too paid $10 to park close by because I have a small child. OSF has much better parking for half the price.

Food was about the same. I saw the dairy barn ice cream, but there was a crazy line, and to be honest I got ice cream at a place near the corn grist Mill (Free hush puppies!) exhibit - a place that had little steam engines cranking old fasioned ice tubs of ice cream - it was really good.

[danadana]

I went to the fair last night around 6 p.m. I parked at the free parking. I was pretty close to the front of the lot. It was a five minute walk to the gate 8 entrance. It was not crowded. I figure if I have room to walk slowly and eat without getting run over than it isn't so bad! I went with some friends and we sampled each others' food.

My faves:
Hot apple cider near the village of yesteryear
Honey Cotton Candy near the art exhibits
Chocolate milk near the art exhibits (two years ago it was 50 cents....75 cents isn't so bad)
I got a HUGE bowl of french fries for $7 across from one of those guess your age people. There was a place with stools off to the side where you could sit. My group and two other groups were commenting on how great and fresh these fries were.
Fried pecan pie! yummy!
I didn't have corn but my friends said it was great. It was from the place that actually has corn roasting right in front of your eyes.

My okays:
Turkey leg- All I tasted was salt.
Fried macaroni and cheese. It was alright.
Fried moon pie. I couldn't appreciate it that much because I ate so much fried stuff by that point.
Boneless buffalo wings.

Wish I had tried:
The ham biscuit from the Apex Lions Club or the Kiwannis. I hear they are the best.
The NCSU milkshakes. I was too cold to think about ice cream.
Pork Producers BBQ. I hear it is near gate 1 & 2.

The pig races were a hoot. The fireworks were beautiful as usual.

[dansdrive]

Thanks for the input and with all that great detailed mouth watering food write ups I'll just have to go back again before its gone! The Fair that is!

I know what you mean about the OFS Fair as it sounds very much like the NYS Fair. Lot more room to wonder around and see everything. Foods about the same but a Fair is a Fair and they are a real Hoot!

I was disappointed in the tallest mobile roller coaster though....I was expecting it to be bigger! Why don't they build a permanent one that could be used year round on the Fair grounds being something is always going on down there anyway? Plus the fair never changes locations seems like a great additional to the Fair Grounds!

[arsbadmojo]

Originally Posted by danadana

I got a HUGE bowl of french fries for $7 across from one of those guess your age people. There was a place with stools off to the side where you could sit. My group and two other groups were commenting on how great and fresh these fries were.

I didn't have corn but my friends said it was great. It was from the place that actually has corn roasting right in front of your eyes.

I know the exact fry place you're talking about, and yes - those were very good, and the stools were a nice touch. Would have been cool if they'd used NC sweet potatoes too.

The corn was from Salinas Valley, CA, and evey corn vendor that I saw was using the same source. I know it's too late in the season for NC corn, but for a localvore like me, seeing corn trucked in from CA was just sad.