By BC News Staff | May 5, 2025
RALEIGH — The sights, sounds and flavors of North Carolina agriculture will take center stage when the Got to Be NC Festival returns to the N.C. State Fairgrounds May 15–17, offering a full weekend of free, family‑friendly fun celebrating the state’s farming heritage.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said the festival is “a chance to experience the very best our state has to offer,” highlighting the people and products that make agriculture North Carolina’s No. 1 industry.
Inside the Got to Be NC Pavilion at the Agri Supply Expo Center, visitors will find more than 100 local food companies, wineries and breweries, including 10 first‑time vendors. The 50,000‑square‑foot marketplace will feature sauces, snacks, meats, beverages and sweets — all made in North Carolina. Admission to the marketplace is $3.
The festival will also spotlight the state’s farmers through the Young Farmer of the Day program, daily tractor parades at 1 p.m., and a massive display of antique farm equipment. Children can enjoy the Kids Corral in the Jim Graham Building, with crafts, educational games, baby pigs, hatching chicks and the Lil Ducky Water Races.
New entertainment acts this year include The Comedy Farm Magic Review, Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean Aerial Highwire Thrill Show, and The Big Bee Transforming Robot Car, a bright yellow Camaro that morphs into a 15‑foot robot. Returning favorites include Lauryn Zepeda and her trick horse Gringo, fresh off a Guinness World Record performance.
Saturday’s lineup features the Carolina Pig Jig, an all‑you‑can‑eat barbecue fundraiser for children’s homes, beginning at 11 a.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for ages 5–10, and free for children under 5. The Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull starts at 1 p.m., followed by the Antique Tractor Pull from 2–8 p.m. and the Dinah Gore 4‑H Healthy Food Challenge in the Jim Graham Building.
Sunday brings Action Alley, where kids can explore working trucks and equipment from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Unlimited ride wristbands will be available Friday and Sunday.
Festival hours are Friday noon–10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–10 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Admission and parking are free; food, rides and some exhibits require purchase.
The Got to Be NC Festival continues to grow as one of the state’s most popular spring events, blending agriculture, entertainment and community pride into one weekend that truly lives up to its name — Got to Be NC.
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