City: Raleigh, NC

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (919) 733-7887 ext. 265

Address: 1025 Blue Ridge Rd.

Description: This relatively new three-day event is a scaled-down version of the N.C. State Fair, held annually in October. Carnival rides and game hawkers crowd the midway alongside petting zoos and fried food vendors. Because the festival is smaller and less well-attended, it’s easier to navigate than the fall fair. Regional beach, bluegrass, and country bands play, but no big-name entertainers grab the headlines, so antique tractor pulls and farm equipment displays take center stage. Food and wine lovers can get a taste of North Carolina’s bounty. Unlike the State Fair, the Got to Be NC Festival allows wine sales. Vendors offer sips of wine and dollops of salsas, dips, and specialty sauces and foods made with produce grown in state. Admission is $5, but ride tickets and entry to special events like tractor pulls are extra.