children on the carousel at the NC State Fair; N.C. state fairs
Photo credit: NC State Fair

North Carolinians have it made during fair season with three fabulous N.C. State Fairs, as they can enjoy not one but three state fairs, held in Fletcher, Winston-Salem and Raleigh.

See more: 2025 North Carolina County Fairs Schedule

The N.C. Mountain State Fair in Fletcher, located 20 minutes south of Asheville, celebrates the people, agriculture, art and traditions of the region. Guests can watch or participate in a number of exciting contests, from cooking to livestock showing to clogging, and enjoy great food and live entertainment. The fair is Sept. 5-14, 2025. See more at mountainfair.org.

The Carolina Classic Fair in Winston-Salem features a public farmers market, a barnyard zoo, wine tastings, carnival rides, competitions and more. The highly anticipated event draws more than 320,000 visitors each year, so don’t miss out! The Dixie Classic happens Oct. 3-12, 2025. Learn more at carolinaclassicfair.com.

The N.C. State Fair takes place in the capital city of Raleigh Oct. 16-26, 2025. From talented entertainers to fascinating exhibits and rowdy competitions, this fair offers something for everyone. Brush up on your knowledge of state agriculture, or test your cooking skills against other fairgoers before heading to the rides and games on the midway. Find out more at ncstatefair.org.

Read & Connect

NCField&FamilySummer2026
Flip through the pages of the Summer 2026 edition of North Carolina Field and Family magazine. In this issue, find vineyard adventures at U-pick muscadine grape farms, explore the oasis of Manteo, learn more about on-farm markets, enjoy peak berry season with summer berry recipes, read about riveting research on hemp fiber and so much more.

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