The N&O's Foodie Tour of the NC State Fair
Schedule
Fri Oct 17 2025 at 11:00 am to 02:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Cardinal Lot (NC State Fair Free Parking) | Raleigh, NC

About this Event
Join The News & Observer's food and dining team on a "Foodie's Tour of the NC State Fair" this fall. This guided tour will take up to 20 attendees to five of the most popular vendors each year on the fairgrounds, giving you line-cutting access to try some of the food that's often voted among the best the fair has to offer year after year.
Tickets include:
- Discounted admission to the State Fair on Friday, Oct. 17 (until 11:30 p.m.)
- Line-cutting access to eat some of the most popular, award-winning food items from five longstanding Fair vendors
- Personal time with the food & dining team at The News & Observer
- Q&A session with members of the State Fair operations team
- An official State Fair 2025 tee shirt
- A complimentary water bottle
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Sept. 24 exclusively for The N&O's First Bite newsletter subscribers, who can buy at a discounted price. (Sign up here for the weekly newsletter all about the Triangle's food & dining scene.)
Remaining tickets will go on sale Friday, Sept. 26 at 8 a.m. to the general public.
Disclaimers:
- All tour attendees, regardless of age, will need an event ticket.
- We cannot accomodate dietary restrictions for this event.
- The tour will be led on foot, and we will be standing most of the time. Attendees should wear comfortable sneakers/clothing and bring any comfort items needed. The fairgrounds are ADA accessible (find accessibility information here). There will be time during the tour for a rest/bathroom break.
- This is a rain or shine event. If extreme weather is forecasted, we will communicate with tickeholders on Thursday, Oct. 16.
- Attendees can cancel their tickets for a refund (minus the non-refundable service fee) up until three days before the event.
- Find the bag policy and what you can/can't bring to the fairgrounds here.
Questions? Email Kimberly Tutuska ([email protected]), The News & Observer's food/service journalism editor.
Where is it happening?
Cardinal Lot (NC State Fair Free Parking), 5766 Chapel Hill Road, Raleigh, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 70.65 to USD 82.09
