The 2027 N.C. State Fair runs Oct. 14-24 at the Raleigh fairgrounds. See the 2026 prices, free days and parking, and the 910,584 final turnout.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Updated each year; the same page carries next year’s dates. Every fact below comes from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which runs the fair: its State Fair site, hours page and ticket page.
The 2026 N.C. State Fair is over. It ran 11 days, Oct. 15-25, at the N.C. State Fairgrounds, 4285 Trinity Road in west Raleigh, and drew 910,584 people, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said in its closing release. The 2027 fair runs Thursday, Oct. 14, through Sunday, Oct. 24. Prices and hours for 2027 are not yet published; the 2026 details below show what to expect, and this page will be updated.
Updated Oct. 27: the 2026 fair has closed. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said attendance was strong every day “but the rain day,” and the department set the 2027 dates as Oct. 14-24, the 75th anniversary of Dorton Arena. Fairgoers gave 203,783 pounds of food to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
Before you go
- Organizer: N.C. State Fair, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 4285 Trinity Road
- Online ticket help (Etix): 919-653-0443
- Traffic around the fairgrounds: DriveNC.gov and our road closures guide
- The fair runs rain or shine and does not give refunds.
2026 dates and hours
From the fair’s hours page:
| Days | Gates | Midway rides |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Oct. 15 | Noon to 11 p.m. | Noon to 11 p.m. |
| Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 16-17 and 23-24 | 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. | 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. |
| Sundays through Thursdays, Oct. 18-22 and Oct. 25 | 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. | 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
Admission ticket booths close at 9:45 p.m., and exhibit halls close at 9:45 p.m. every day. The ticket page says you must buy admission and be inside the gates by 9:45 p.m.; there is no re-entry after that.
2026 tickets and prices
| Ticket | Advance (online through Oct. 15) | Gate and online, Oct. 16-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, 13-64 | $10 | $13 |
| Youth, 6-12 | $5 | $7 |
| Senior, 65 and older | $5 | $5 |
| Child, 5 and under | Free | Free |
| Military adult, 13-64 | N/A | $8 |
| Group of 40 or more, adult and youth | $8 and $4 | N/A |
Source: the fair’s ticket page. Online tickets carry a ticketing fee of 10.725%. Gates take cash, Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Rides are extra. The department’s Sept. 3 announcement lists advance prices of $10 for 18 ride tickets, $30 for a one-day unlimited ride wristband and $10 round trip on the State Fair Flyer. Online-only packages include the Dizzy Pass (admission plus a ride wristband, $38).
Where to buy in person through Oct. 15: the Dorton Arena kiosk and Gate 9 on Trinity Road, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the State Farmers Market, 1201 Agriculture St., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The weekday lunch pass: on weekdays, an adult can pay a $20 cash deposit at Gate 9 or Gate 1 between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., buy lunch inside and get the $20 back by leaving through the same gate by 1:30 p.m., according to the deals page.
Special days in 2026
From the fair’s special admission days page:
- Thursday, Oct. 15, College Day: $8 at the gate for college students with a valid ID.
- Sunday, Oct. 18, Sensory Day: no lights or music on rides, games and booths until 1 p.m.; a quiet room with noise-canceling headphones in the Graham Building, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 20, Senior Citizens Day: free admission for ages 65 and older.
- Wednesday, Oct. 21, Military Appreciation Day: free entry for military members and veterans with ID, plus three guests; a parade through the grounds at 10 a.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 22, Hunger Relief Day: six nonperishable food items buy one free admission, for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.
Parking, shuttles and traffic
The fair’s getting here page says parking on State Fair, Carter-Finley Stadium and Lenovo Center property is free, with one exception: the Lenovo Center lots are reserved, paid parking on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The fair suggests taking Wade Avenue to the Edwards Mill Road extension.
- Dogwood Lot, 4501 Reedy Creek Road: free parking and a free shuttle to Gate 8 on Trinity Road.
- Cardinal Lot, 5766 Chapel Hill Road (N.C. 54): free parking and a free shuttle to Gate 7.
- GoRaleigh: an express shuttle every 30 minutes from Lot A on Hunt Drive at Dix Park to Gate 1, 8:30 a.m. to closing; $5 round trip, $2.50 for seniors and riders with disabilities. Details from GoRaleigh.
- GoDurham: a free hourly express from Durham Station, 515 W. Pettigrew St., to Gate 1.
- NC By Train: a special fair stop right outside Gate 1, Oct. 15-25; book station code NSF at NCByTrain.org.
- Accessible parking: the paved lot at Blue Ridge Road and Trinity Road, near Gate 10, with overflow at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Neighbors often sell parking on their own land during the fair; the fair says it does not control those lots. DriveNC.gov lists fair traffic changes on Trinity Road, Blue Ridge Road, Edwards Mill Road and Hillsborough Street from Oct. 15 through Oct. 25; our road closures guide carries the details.
What to know
From the fair’s FAQs and guest safety page:
- Bags: every bag is searched. A clear bag of any size goes through a quicker line.
- Food: outside food and drink, water bottles and diaper bags are allowed. Alcohol, glass bottles and weapons are not. Firearms are banned on the grounds during the fair under state law.
- Pets: not allowed. Service dogs are welcome.
- Strollers and wheelchairs: bring your own, or rent strollers, wagons, wheelchairs and scooters near Gates 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
- Kids’ rides: most Kiddieland rides need riders to be 36 inches tall.
- Also banned: bicycles, skateboards, drones, and masks or costumes that hide a person’s identity.
- Cash: the fair is not cashless; ATMs are on the grounds and some vendors take cash only.
What this means for you
- Put Oct. 14-24, 2027, on the calendar; the advance sale ran up to opening day in 2026, at $3 off the adult gate price.
- Weekday special days (seniors, military, food drive) cut the cost to nothing in 2026, and this page will list the 2027 ones once the fair posts them.
- Allow extra time on Blue Ridge and Trinity roads during fair week.
More fall plans: things to do this month and fall festivals and pumpkin patches.
Frequently asked questions
When is the N.C. State Fair in 2027?
Oct. 14-24, 2027, at the N.C. State Fairgrounds, 4285 Trinity Road in Raleigh, according to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Ticket prices and hours for 2027 are not yet published.
How many people went to the 2026 N.C. State Fair?
910,584, the department said on Oct. 26. The 2026 fair ran Oct. 15-25.
How much were N.C. State Fair tickets in 2026?
Advance adult tickets were $10 through Oct. 15. From Oct. 16 to 25, adult tickets (ages 13-64) were $13 at the gate and online, youth 6-12 were $7, seniors 65 and older were $5, military adults were $8 and children 5 and under got in free. 2027 prices are not yet published.
Is parking free at the N.C. State Fair?
It was in 2026. Parking on State Fair, Carter-Finley Stadium and Lenovo Center property was free, except at the Lenovo Center on one day, Oct. 21, when it was reserved and paid. Free shuttles ran from the Dogwood Lot on Reedy Creek Road and the Cardinal Lot on Chapel Hill Road.
Can you bring food or a bag into the N.C. State Fair?
Yes. Outside food and drink, water bottles and diaper bags are allowed, and all bags are searched. A clear bag of any size goes through a faster line. Alcohol, weapons and pets are banned; service dogs are welcome.
What were the free days at the 2026 N.C. State Fair?
Seniors 65 and older got in free Tuesday, Oct. 20. Military members and veterans plus three guests got in free Wednesday, Oct. 21. On Thursday, Oct. 22, six nonperishable food items bought one free admission. The 2027 special days are not yet published.
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