The State Fair!

The North Carolina State Fair started last Thursday and went through this weekend. I ended up going twice-- once with some UNC friends and once with my parents. First, if you look above, you can see a sample of some of the crazy deep-fried food that was available for consumption. But that was only the tip of the iceberg.

According to their website, the fairgrounds complex is 344 acres! It's huge! My mom accurately commented that it was a giant aggregate event of every small grange fair and community fair that we'd ever been too. There was a midway, an "old-time" village, an agricultural 4-H livestock ring, a place for children to show their animals, pumpkin-judging contests, hobbies and crafts, a "kiddie village," a horse show pavilion, hog races, concerts, and on and on and on. Both times I visited we just wandered around for several hours- there was no real way to find your bearings. At any rate, it was a great cultural experience and I already look forward to going back next year!

Here are some more photos:

A Kool-Aid Pickle-- Yes it's a Pickle Pickled in Kool-Aid

The Midway at Night

 

The View of the Fair from the top of the Ferris Wheel