These 11 food vendors aren’t returning to the NC State Fair this year
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- N.C. State Fair returns Oct. 16–26 2025 with 204 food vendors and 80 new items.
- Organizers list 11 veteran vendors not returning; application competition limits turnover.
- Fair adds novelty dishes like pickle popsicles and deep-fried chicken feet to menu.
For many, deep-fried delights and classic carnival bites are the best part of the NC State Fair. But this year, several fan-favorite foods won’t be found on the grounds.
The state’s largest annual event is returning to Raleigh Thursday, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 26 with more than 80 new dishes and drinks like pickle juice popsicles, deep-fried chicken feet and cotton candy iced tea.
This year, nearly a dozen food vendors from years’ past will not be present for fairgoers this year, a spokesperson for the N.C. State Fair Press Office confirmed to The News & Observer:
- Carolina Pickle Company Inc. known for pickles
- The Cary Inn known for hamburgers and hot dogs
- Downtown Fresh Market LLC known for freeze dried candy, hats, shirts and novelties
- Glen R. Smith known for hot dogs, biscuits and french fries
- Homestead Emu Ranch known for funnel cakes
- Hot Wisconsin Cheese known for cheddar nuggets and mozzarella fingers
- L & A Concessions, LLC. known for hot dogs
- Memphis Greenly, LLC dba Lobster Dogs known for Lobster dogs
- On Board LLC known for charcuterie boards
- Sassys Sweet Potatoes known for sweet potatoes and loaded sweet potatoes
- Whiteners Concession known for candy apples and cotton candy
According to organizers, there will be a total of 204 food vendors at the state fair, along with around 40 more in the Got to Be NC Pavilion.
How are food vendors selected for the state fair?
Organizers told The N&O they did not have specific details about why the 11 previous vendors will not be at the state fair this year, but did provide information about the vendor application and registration process, which typically opens around March and lasts until July.
“Applications are for consideration of space only, and do not guarantee you a location in the fair. Space is in great demand with a less than 5% turnover … We are looking for products that we do not have at the fair; something different, unique and attractively presented,” the state fair’s website says.
How to find a specific food vendor
You can find a map of all the vendors at the N.C. State Fair this year online at ncstatefair.org.
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 4:37 PM with the headline "These 11 food vendors aren’t returning to the NC State Fair this year."