Gimme an N! Gimme a C!

North Carolina State Fair
October 16, 2007



North Carolina at its best: the state fair! In all its glory, with harrowing rides,


fine delicacies


garden pride


scenes of the Tar Heel State in miniature - a mini lighthouse


old time industry - a cornmeal mill run by water wheel, where they served free delicious hushpuppies


The fair is also an agricultural exposition. Underscoring the intensive piggeries of The Old North State are a sow and her piglets.


In the foreground, a tribe of goats on a haystack; in the background, evidence of the high stakes agricultural competitions of Carolina del Norte.


The agricultural exhibitions extend to the fantasy.


The fair also had turkey shoot competitions, where competitors typically shoot with shotguns - but I was too afraid to check if they used real shotguns.


If turkey shoots are too dangerous for the young'uns, here a state official instructs on safe air rifle shooting.


There were crafts a plenty ...


and instructional exhibitions of the danger of germs


With so much excitement, convenient and friendly toilets are essential.


Dare devil BMX bike stunts - here an expert defies gravity


and the races extend to the swift swine - here is the pig racing track


To end the evening, a ride on the Ferris wheel


and to fight the nausea/vertigo I experienced, I tried focussing on the spokes


and finally, here is a view of the fair from the wheel.

The North Carolina State Fair! Definitely worth its 7 dollar admission (£3.42).