1853: NORTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR

On a scale of one to ten, in terms of significant historical events, this one probably lies at about negative seventeen. Yet even for its low score, it is enthusiastically included for the sheer volume of wonders it has produced. Consider that at the annual North Carolina State Fair, the following may be observed firsthand: human cannonballs, extremely large people in overalls, hideously stupid-looking hats, a juggling motorcycle driver jumping over a school bus, a pig race, a five-pound corn dog, a pumpkin the size of a small house, a herd of lop-eared rabbits vying for “Best in Show” or the beautiful State Fair Queen milking a cow. The North Carolina State Fair has become a slice of Americana, simultaneously hallmarking its agricultural brilliance and its aesthetic cheesiness. Most importantly, “The Far,” as it’s fondly called, is extremely fun! A short history is prescribed.

It seems that early nineteenth-century farmers faced numerous challenges; along with being mostly illiterate, many were utilizing outdated agricultural practices, struggling to find good breeding stock and lacking government agencies to improve their production. In 1852, a group of concerned citizens formed the North Carolina State Agricultural Society, with the intent of creating an annual state fair to showcase the most useful agricultural practices and to provide a venue for exhibiting and selling prime stock. With the help of North Carolina legislators and the financial support of Raleigh citizens, the society purchased fairgrounds and constructed stalls and exhibition halls. After a collective effort of hurricane proportions, the 1853 North Carolina State Fair, held in Raleigh, opened to rave reviews. Thousands of farmers attended, bringing new agricultural techniques, the latest farming equipment, livestock to sell, pies to eat and stomachs to fill.

Outdoing itself every year, the North Carolina State Fair has continued to grow and prosper, adding horse racing, shooting contests, concerts and, well, you name it. Shutting down only during the Civil War and Reconstruction years, the state fair has provided a unique event for educating and entertaining the agricultural community. With the addition of carnival rides, amusing attractions and overpriced concessions in the early 1900s, the state fair has become an event for one and all. Today, the ten-day-long North Carolina State Fair attracts over one million visitors annually. It stands as the state’s oldest, most eccentric educational event.