Village of Yesteryear crafters, who showcase their work and time-honored heritage crafting skills during the annual State Fair, will have work on display for a year in the Raleigh Convention Center. On Monday, a number of crafters were moving in pieces of artwork and crafts for the kiosk window displays on the 300 Level of the convention center on both the Lenoir Street and Cabarrus Street sides.
The 10-foot-long kiosks are part of the outside walls of meeting rooms, and the exhibits can be seen from outside and inside the rooms. Wood carvings, handmade guns, tin lanterns, carved wooden bowls, gourd crafts, woven chair pads, corn shuck dolls, pottery, a handmade tile birdhouse, carved pipes, musical instruments and more will fill up the display cases.
“This is an incredible opportunity to have our work on display in the Convention Center, because it draws over 100,000 visitors annually to Raleigh,” said Pam Earp, who is superintendent of the Village of Yesteryear. ”The mission of the Village is to keep these heritage crafts alive and to help educate people on the way things were made in the past. We hope visitors will enjoy the talents of some of our state’s finest crafters and will want to learn more about these heritage crafts.”
Hootie, who? Darius Rucker plays Dorton Arena on Saturday, Oct. 23. Tickets are $20.
Seeing Darius Rucker on Saturday, Oct. 23, is going to be a like a homecoming. Growing up in South Carolina like I did, everyone knew Hootie and the Blowfish and its frontman. Everyone had a “Hootie” story – one of those stories that goes something like, “My cousin was roommates with the dogsitter of Hootie’s neighbor,” or “I bumped into Hootie in a mosh pit at a house party when I went to USC.”
After meeting virtually everyone in South Carolina, except me, Darius Rucker dropped the “Hootie” name and transitioned to country music with 2008′s Learn to Live. Songs like “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” “History in the Making” and “Alright” earned Darius a Best New Artist award at the 2009 CMAs.
Darius continues to earn praise from country fans with his latest track, “Come Back Song,” which is already moving up the Billboard chart. Here’s an inside look at “Come Back Song”:
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The song is the first from his new album, Charleston, SC 1966, which is available in stores on Oct. 12, only 11 days before he plays Dorton Arena. Tickets for the Oct. 23 concert are just $20 and are available starting tommorrow, Sept. 1, at 8 a.m. from our website.
Looking at Easton Corbin’s cover art and listening to his first hit single, “I’m a Little More Country Than That,” you get the feeling that this Florida native has a firsthand knowledge of the slow pace of country living, rocking on the porch with your dog by your side. And sure enough, according to the biography on his website, he spent a lot of time growing up on his grandparents’ cattle farm in rural Florida. He was a member of 4-H and FFA and even showed cattle at a local fair before earning an agribusiness degree from the University of Florida. As a matter of fact, his small-town experience sounds a lot like growing up in parts of North Carolina:
Growing up in the smallest county in the state on farmland nestled between two small towns had its advantages. It’s a close community. Everybody knows everybody. There’s no Wal-Mart there. There was a Hardees’s, but it closed. That was the only franchise fast food place in the county. Trenton has a red light; Bell has a blinking light. It’s a great place.
I saw Easton Corbin perform at The Longbranch in Raleigh at the end of April. I was later told that that was the first time he did a full solo concert. I never would have guessed it. He performed a great show, singing mostly songs from his debut album and many obscure, older country songs thrown in here and there. Two friends (including former Deep Fried crew member, Cotton Candy) and I actually got to talk to him and Drew Belk, his amazing steel guitar player, for almost an hour after the concert. Easton and Drew were both down-to-earth guys whose love for country music was obvious.
In the middle of the conversation, I asked Easton about his dog. He looked a little perplexed, and then realized I was talking about the dog on the album cover. Turns out the dog isn’t his. The dog lived at, or near, the house where they were shooting the promotional pictures and the dog just jumped up in the chair and hung out. Doesn’t surprise me a bit. I imagine that Easton was probably strumming along on the guitar and singing, and the dog felt right at home with this very genuine artist. I expect that if you come to see Easton Corbin in Dorton Arena on Monday, Oct. 18, you’ll feel right at home, too.
Tickets are only $5 and they go on sale Wednesday, Sept. 1, at www.ncstatefair.org.
Fun parody link: Fellow country musicians Lady Antebellum did a pretty funny parody called “I’m a Little More Preppy Than That.” Click the song title to see their video.
Yep, we’ve had a hole in our concert lineup. Three holes, to be exact. Earlier this year, we booked three artists and then found out they were coming to town on a particular country music tour that stopped at the big shed in Raleigh this past weekend. No biggie. We hope that seeing them as opening acts will encourage people to come to Fair to see their full shows. Despite the fact that the concert dates have been listed on the artists’ websites for months, we were unable – due to contractual obligations – to announce until now that Easton Corbin, Darius Rucker and Justin Moore are all going to perform at the N.C. State Fair.
Easton Corbin, whose debut single “A Little More Country Than That,” hit No. 1 on country charts, will rock in Dorton Arena on Monday, Oct. 18. Tickets are only $5.
Darius Rucker traded in his rock star status to become a country singer, and his first country solo album yielded the hit singles “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” and “Alright.” The artist formerly known as “Hootie” will perform in Dorton Arena on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Justin Moore will close out the Fair on Sunday, Oct. 24. He is best known for his hit single, “Small Town USA,” from his self-titled debut album. Tickets are only $5.
Tickets for these three shows will go on sale at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, on our website, www.ncstatefair.org.
Carolina Chocolate Drops plays Dorton Arena Sunday, Oct. 17.
When Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson formed the Carolina Chocolate Drops in 2005, there was no way of knowing the success their old-time string band would see in five short years. The trio began playing with fiddler Joe Thompson at his home in Mebane, and have since gone on to perform at huge music festivals like Bonnaroo and revered venues like the Grand Ole Opry (they will perform for a second time on Tuesday). CCD also has seen its latest album, Genuine Negro Jig, reach number one on the Billboard bluegrass chart and the band has even starred alongside Denzel Washington in 2007′s The Great Debaters.
Here’s a look at the band’s beginning from their website:
When the three students decided to form a band, they didn’t have big plans. It was mostly a tribute to Joe [Thomspon], a chance to bring his music back out of the house again and into dance halls and public places. They called themselves The Chocolate Drops as a tip of the hat to the Tennessee Chocolate Drops, three black brothers Howard, Martin and Bogan Armstrong, who lit up the music scene in the 1930s. Honing and experimenting with Joe’s repertoire, the band often coaxed their teacher out of the house to join them on stage. Joe’s charisma and charm regularly stole the show.
Joe’s charisma might have stolen early shows, but it’s the band’s interpretation of Joe’s music and others that’s stealing shows today. The latest tracks range from old-time standards like “Cornbread and Butterbeans” to reinventions of Tom Waits’ “Trampled Rose” and Blu Cantrell’s R&B single “Hit ‘Em Up Style” — shown below from a recording at WDVX’s Blue Plate Special in Knoxville.
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The Carolina Chocolate Drops play Dorton Arena on Sunday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the show are just $5, and a limited number are still available at our website.
Do you have a green thumb? Then you should consider entering one, two or all three flower shows during this year’s State Fair. There are competitions for adults and children, professionals and amateurs. You can enter competitions for annuals, perennials, bonsai, flower arrangements, hanging baskets, gourds or pumpkins – just to name a few. The flower and garden competitions also have the highest premiums. While most prizes are in the single digits, some garden winners can take home up to $750.
In the Premium Book, you’ll find 31 pages with all the classes, groups and sections for the Flower and Garden Show. Did we mention it’s free to enter, and you can win ribbons, prize money and of course, bragging rights?
Still on the fence? Erv Evans, superintendent for the Flower and Garden Show, recently sent us a list of the top reasons to enter the show. Check out the video below as Ray Starling, garden enthusiast and NCDA&CS general counsel, reads the top 10 list. Maybe one of these reasons can persuade you to enter.
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For more information about the Flower and Garden Show, including show schedules and entry forms, visit the competition page on our website. Entry forms are due Oct. 1.
Last week, we brought you the first installment of our very busy entertainment lineup. Today, we finish it up with part deux. The racing pigs and the King BMX show are two of the most popular acts on the ground. We’re excited to bring back the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band to offer topnotch entertainment on the Bluegrass Stage. And we’ve got new acts on the Waterfall Stage, including Jeanne Jolly, who has a dedicated local following. We’re supplementing both of those stages with additional acts on the weekend to keep the fun going.
So without further ado, here’s part two:
Grandstand
King Action Sports Stunt ShowOur favorite BMX bikers show up at the grandstand when the Tractor Pull pulls out. This high-flying stunt spectacular kicks off in the Grandstand on Monday, Oct. 18, and continues through the end of the Fair. Keith King will have flatland, ramp and motocross riders again this year for an action-packed show. Times are: Monday through Thursday, noon, 3 and 5 p.m.; Friday at 11 a.m., 1, 3 and 5 p.m.; Saturday at 10 a.m., noon, and 5 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. (Times change on the weekend to accommodate the Demolition Derby.)
Hogway Speedway
Circle C Racing Pigs – We LOVE our racing pigs. My second year on the job, we didn’t have racing pigs, and just short of a riot occurred. Our loyal fairgoers made sure their voices were heard and we haven’t gone another year without this State Fair tradition featuring pigs, ducks and goats racing ’round the oval. (As it should be, right?) The checkered flag drops daily at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m. at Hogway Speedway, near Gate 9. (Added bonus, the Circle C Petting Zoo will again be next door.)
Waterfall Stage (Sponsored by Kitchencraft)
Jeanne Jolly: Raleigh-native Jeanne Jolly will perform original music and cover songs on the Waterfall Stage. Performances daily at noon, 3 and 6 p.m., except on Wednesday, Oct. 20 – Military Appreciation Day. On opening day, Jeanne will perform at 4 and 6 p.m.
Hicksboro Station The Waterfall Stage gets additional performances on the weekends by Hicksboro Station, a North Carolina-based country – rock band. Hicksboro Station will perform at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Bluegrass Stage
Kenny & Amanda Smith Band – This Grammy-nominated bludgrass group returns to Heritage Circle for daily performances of original music and cover songs. Catch them at noon, 2:30 and 5 p.m.
On the weekend, there are extra performances on the Bluegrass stage. The first weekend, Kevin Carter and Full Assurance will perform gospel music at 10:30 a.m., 1:15 and 3:45 p.m. The second weekend, Back Porch Bluegrass will take the stage at 10:30 a.m., 1:15 and 3:45 p.m.
Casting Crowns performs at Dorton Arena Friday, Oct. 15.
I recently heard the name Casting Crowns for the first time. Obviously, there are many more people that have heard of the headlining act at Dorton Arena Friday, Oct. 15. After two weeks of advance sales, the concert for the Atlanta-based group has sold more than 1,800 tickets and is on its way to being our first sold-out show of 2010.
I decided to see what all the excitement was about, but I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought I might hear something similar to old gospel tunes from my grandparents’ radio, but after listening to the artist’s songs on our 2010 N.C. State Fair Pandora station, I understand the buzz.
Casting Crowns performs soft- to medium-rock ballads with catchy choruses that are easy to learn. The songs create a certain mood, which should translate into a powerful experience in Dorton Arena. For fans of Casting Crowns, the event will be heavenly. Fans can get a preview of that experience Aug. 31, when the group releases a DVD from its “Until the Whole World Hears” tour. Cool fact: Most of the footage for the DVD was filmed at the Greensboro Coliseum earlier this year.
Tickets for Casting Crowns and other Dorton Arean concerts are still available. Stay tuned for more artist spotlights and information on the remaining concert announcements as we “Celebrate What’s Great” about the 2010 N.C. State Fair.
It’s an interesting balancing act that State Fair Assistant Manager Mike Pleasant plays each year when booking grounds entertainment. While he strives to bring new and interesting acts to the Fair, whenever something disappears, he hears from scores of disappointed people who were hoping to see just the act that he didn’t renew. So to keep things fresh, he rotates acts around, bringing in new acts every few years and giving some acts a year or two breathing room before bringing them back. This year’s grounds entertainment is mostly entertainers that fairgoers will be familiar with, including a few that are back for the first time in a few years.
Mike even added an additional spot to the schedule to accommodate two more grounds acts. Really, there’s so much to tell you about, that it’s going to take two posts to fit it all in, so check out today’s installment and stay tuned for more information next week. And be sure to check last week’s post on the roaming acts you can expect to see this year.
Kiddieland
Magic 4 U: Brad Matchett returns after a year away with his wacky and entertaining magic show for the young (and the young at heart). Brad uses a lot of audience interaction, balloon tricks and magic to entertain guests. Shows daily at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. He performs at 5 p.m. only on Thursday, Oct. 14.
Michelle’s Magical Poodles: This show features Michelle doing an array of circus-style tricks with her four miniature poodle assistants. Shows daily at 1, 2 and 4 p.m
Hubba Bubba the Clown: Cary-resident Kevie Peavy will engage kids of all ages with his comedy and magic act. He has stage shows daily at noon and 6 p.m. He’ll also be roaming around Kiddieland throughout the day.
North Dorton Lawn
Steve Trash, Rockin’ Eco-Hero: This eco-magician will entertain and educate using unbelievable illusions to demonstrate ecological ideas. Kids won’t even realize they’ve learned something when they walk away. Shows daily at 2, 4 and 6 p.m., 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14, and an additional show at noon on Saturdays.
Dale Jones, Juggler: Dale Jones has only one good hand, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a world-class juggler and an inspiring performer. His comedy/juggling routine will have the audience amazed at his abilities and attitude. Show times at 1, 3 and 5 p.m., daily, with an additional show at 11 a.m. on Saturdays.
Expo Center
Steve Brogan, Ventriloquist: Shows daily at 1, 3 and 5 p.m., with additional shows at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and shows at 3:30 and 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14.
HoopDrum: Julia and Scott return to the Fair with their unique hoop dancing and drum combo. Fairgoers can participate in this interactive show that features Julia dancing with hoops, including the fire hoop while Scott provides the beat using a variety of percussion instruments. Shows daily at noon, 4 and 6 p.m., with an additional show at noon on Saturdays. They will perform at 6 p.m. only on Thursday, Oct. 14.
Coming next week: Hogway Speedway, Grandstand, Waterfall Stage and Bluegrass Stage acts.
So tell us, who are you excited to see this year?
Hubba Bubba the Clown, Michelle's Magical Poodles and Steve Trash will all be at the 2010 N.C. State Fair
What began as a temporary gig helping a friend, has turned into 25 years of service for Carol Turner, the N.C. State Fair livestock office manager. Carol oversees a six-person staff and coordinates with superintendents for each of the animal species during the Fair. For the past several weeks, she has been camped out in the Gate 9 ticket booth preparing for this year’s show. Her staff will join her in the Graham Building after Labor Day, where they’ll remain throughout the Fair.
One of the biggest challenges for Carol this year is converting the old entry database to new software. The software, Blue Ribbon, will be used to manage all livestock entries, competitions and reports for the livestock shows, which should make it easier to enter and track winners. I visited Carol last week to see how the conversion was going and to find out more about the 2010 N.C. State Fair livestock shows.
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Livestock shows will be held in the Graham Building, Kelley Building, and in the Sheep Tent behind the Expo Center. Grand and reserve champions also will be on display in the Expo Center, along with the State Fair Ark. Fairgoers can see even more animals throughout the fairgrounds at the Rabbit Barn, Poultry Tent, Children’s Barnyard and Pig Races.
If you would like to enter an animal in one of the livestock shows, you can access Blue Ribbon here. To find a complete schedule of livestock shows at the 2010 Fair, check out the judging schedule here.
Welcome to Deep Fried @ the N.C. State Fair. We hope you will find some interesting tidbits about one of our favorite subjects -- the North Carolina State Fair! We're gearing up for the 2010 State Fair, Oct. 14-24 and look forward to sharing our behind-the-scenes knowledge with you.
