Schedule and General Information

Join your friends and family for three great days of down-home celebration North Carolina-style at the 2011 Got to Be NC Festival. Coming to the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh May 20-22, the festival will feature North Carolina’s agricultural bounty and mix in a generous dash of music and fun for everyone. General admission is free to all ages, including all grandstand events. But bring a little money for pay as you go rides, games and food.

Schedule  < click here> 3 Day Online Schedule
Schedule <click here> Printable PDF
Map <click here> Printable PDF


Friday May 20th
9 a.m.                         Gates open
10 a.m.                      Buildings & Exhibits Open
10 a.m.                      Rocky The Trick Mule -- near Holshouser Bldg.
11 a.m.                      Antique Tractor Parade
Full Schedule          For More fun things to do click here

Saturday May 21st
9 a.m.                         Gates open
10 a.m.                      Buildings & Exhibits Open
10 a.m.                      Carnival Midway Opens
Full Schedule          For More fun things to do click here

Sunday May 22nd
9 a.m.                         Gates open
10 a.m.                      Buildings & Exhibits Open
10 a.m.                      Carnival Midway Opens
10 a.m.                      Rocky The Trick Mule--near Holshouser Bldg.
Full Schedule          For More fun things to do click here

Taste the best foods from the mountains to the coast at the North Carolina Food and Wine Expo. Sample the thousands of foods raised here in the state and buy some to take home. Wine, cheese, sauces, candies, nuts, meats, snacks and beverages will all be available for your sensory safari. The Got to be NC Food a& Wine Expo will be held in the Expo Building from 10 am – 8 pm Friday & Saturday, and 10 am – 6 pm Sunday. Admission to the North Carolina Food and Wine Expo is $2.00 for adults and free for children 11 and under. Each attendee will receive a sheet of 12 coupons that are good towards many of the delicious products on display at the Expo.

Tour the antique farm equipment preserved and restored by collectors all over North Carolina and neighboring states. Antique tractor clubs from across the state will be on hand with knowledgeable collectors and restorers ready to answer questions. Look at over 1,000 pieces of farm equipment on display. Then see those antique tractors pull in the Grandstand shows.

Natural Horsepower will be on display on Friday night in the Grandstand when draft horses will test their might against the weight of a loaded sled.

Music, Music, Music! If it’s Got to Be NC it’s got to be beach, country and bluegrass music. In fact, we’ll host a bluegrass band competition so stop by and check out the hot licks. And catch the best in beach, bluegrass and country music on several stages each day at the festival.

What kind of festival would be complete without a carnival? Choose from over three dozen rides, play a game or just pound down a foot-long hot dog with all the fixin’s. The rides, just like the food, will vary from mild to wild so take your pick!

There ain’t nothin’ cuter than a baby piglet. Unless maybe it’s baby calf, or a ducking so small it fits in a child’s palm. A petting zoo, pig races, pony rides and more will celebrate the importance of animal agriculture in the state.