Gas crisis will not deter enthusiastic state fair attendees

Despite high gas prices and widespread shortages, representatives for the approaching N.C. State Fair remain optimistic that neither will impact turnout.

Officials said last year more than 850,000 people attended the 10-day event, an attendance record.

Natalie Alford, a county fair coordinator with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said the goal this year is higher.

“We are shooting for a million people,” she said.

The gas prices and shortages don’t seem to be hurting the vendors either although their traveling expenses have risen, Alford said.

She said that state fair vendors are more likely to cancel for weather reasons, but even that is rare.

The fair will still have all the classic elements, including family rides and farming competitions. However, organizers have made some changes to attract a crowd who may consider it a luxury to attend the Raleigh fair when gas prices are high.

Brian Long, a spokesman for the fair, said the attraction is still worth the expense.

“Although this year the economy is more uncertain, the state fair is still a good family value,” he said.

He added that the fair could even serve as a “stay-cation” or a vacation at home.

The managers of the state fair began the advanced ticket sales in August instead of September as in past years, to attract those “stay-cationers,” Long said.

The state fair will stay open a day longer this year, allowing for more visitors. It will also have a special promotion on the opening day, Oct. 16.

Fair officials encourage people to use Park-and-Ride option, which allows them to park in a location away from the fair and ride a bus to the event.

It has partnered with Triangle Transit, Durham Area Transit Authority and Capital Area Transit to provide this service. As an incentive, the fair is giving away $10 coupon books for Subway restaurants to those who choose the Park-and-Ride option.

For those students who don’t have a car and can’t carpool, Triangle Transit will provide shuttles to the event Saturdays and Sundays.

The buses will pick up and drop off passengers throughout both weekends at the Eubanks Road Park-and-Ride lot.

Junior Svetlana Vashchenko said that she will probably carpool with other students who are planning to attend the fair rather than let gas prices stop her completely.

“It’s a bummer,” she said about the high gas prices, “But the state fair is a big deal for those who live in the Triangle area.”

Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.