I trundled out to the NC State Fairgrounds from the center of Raleigh, not really knowing what to expect.  I knew there was a flea market there every Saturday, and that there was a special event being held in another area that featured Indian (of SE Asia) food and dance.  I knew that the Fair Grounds had been used for a long time, and that there was a building you can see from Hillsborough Street (original Route 1) that looked like something from a  Jetsons cartoon.

I love Indian food, and I enjoy poking around at flea markets, and I was curious to learn more about an institution that had been around for 170+ years, so I thought it would be worthwhile checking it out on a nice Saturday afternoon in the Spring.

History of the Fair

The Fair grew up before the Civil War as a four day long agricultural exhibition in the Autumn to showcase NC farmers and their livestock.   There were horse races, political speeches and marching bands on parade, too.  It was a spectacular concept to share ideas and to provide agricultural education for several days of the year in a State where most farmers lived in relative isolation the rest of the time.  The Fair was interrupted by the Civil War and reconstruction and it paused again in 1926 due to lack of operating funds, and again during WWII and during the COVID-19 epidemic.  In conjunction with some of the interruptions, the Fairgrounds moved twice, finally settling at its current spot in 1928, two years after the establishment of Route 1.

Carnival rides were on the grounds by the 1890s, and prepared food first showed up in 1900 as a way to raise funds for churches and social groups. Over time the event grew larger, the grounds expanded, and more and more days were tacked on.  By 2008 the Fair had become an 11 day event.  The agricultural character of the Fair remained, despite the expansion of hoopla surrounding its original purpose.  By 2010, Fair attendance exceeded 1 million.

The Dorton Center was constructed in 1952 as a livestock display and auction hall, dubbed “The Cow Palace”.  It was the first exhibition hall to be constructed without view-blocking interior columns.  It’s parabolic engineering design was a prototype for later generations of indoor stadiums and super domes.

All of those Fairground buildings do not sit idle for 354 days of the year! Events are organized months and years ahead to take advantage of the easy highway access, ample parking and well-maintained buildings.

StarQuest at the Dorton Center

On the day I visited, the Dorton Center was being used for an event called StarQuest, drawing young dance competitors from across the region who chase their dreams of fame and adoration.  Wearing sequined outfits, wearing full hair and makeup, and wearing their game faces, the dancers milled about in the lobby and waited in the seats with their coaches, parents and dance instructors.  It felt as if I had walked  into a scene out of “Little Miss Sunshine”   There were so many stories in the Dorton Center that afternoon of kids with big dreams and how they practiced and arrived at the competition.

Nuv Yug Festival

In the adjacent Jim Graham building, I found the Nuv Yug Festival https://www.nuvyug.org/  2025.  The Hindi phrase “Nuv Yug” means “new era” or “new generation”.  The festival event was created in 2003 to celebrate Indian culture through Dance, food, crafts, and fellowship.  The event was welcoming, beautiful, and well-organized.

More than 1,200 performers took the stage this year to showcase their talent through dance and music.  I enjoyed a wonderful plate of Indian food for lunch, stayed for an hour of entertainment, and perused the offerings at the vendor tables.  The festival is supported through a grant from the City of Raleigh, by festival vendors and by local businesses.

Hall of Fame Room

My curiosity got the best of me and I poked around some of the unused areas of the Jim Graham Building looking for a photo opportunity.  I came upon the State Fair Hall of Fame,  replete with a wall of photo portraits of the 185 agriculturalists who have been enshrined there.  They say every picture tells a story, and wow, I could tell that there were some interesting stories as I looked at the character in so many of those faces.

Flea Market

Every Saturday and Sunday there’s a renowned flea market held at the State Fair Grounds, rain or shine.  Since it was a sunny day, acres of blacktop was packed with about 350 vendors who parked their mini-vans, trucks, and SUVs, and laid out their wares on tables in their designated spaces.   

Things got a little interesting when the winds kicked up and some of the awnings and merchandise began to topple over.  A few of the regulars complained to one another about “newbies”, who were inexperienced with these conditions, and who didn’t take precautions to consult the weather forecast and/or properly tie things down.

The windy conditions drove me indoors for a while to the Kerr Scott Building, one of the other permanent buildings at the State Fair, where vendors maintain their displays throughout the week.  Generally, the quality of the merch was consistently better there, because the vendors have more experience and have invested in fitting out their spaces with shelving, display areas, and other infrastructure.

I found what I was looking for!  Vendors included artists, nerds, craftspeople, storytellers, hucksters, geeks, junque merchants, swill merchants, foodies, entrepreneurs, poo scrapers, knuckleheads, bargains, and things I had never seen or tasted before.  I could have stayed all day, if my feet were willing!  If you’re in Raleigh on a weekend, please go to the Flea Market.  It is an amazing experience.