Support Us Button Widget
Culture

Inside the Got to Be NC Festival

Celebrate North Carolina agriculture at a free three-day festival with carnival rides, animals, food, and entertainment.

May 18, 2023 • 
Sarah Leonhardt
A row of shiny red tractors with carnival rides in the background.

Catch a daily tractor parade honoring a different young farmer in the ag. industry.

Photos provided by Got to Be NC

Table of Contents
Butterfly Barn
Carolina Cooker Skillet Skee-Ball
Chick Hatchery
Pardoned Thanksgiving Turkeys
Kenya Safari Acrobats
Feeder Pigs
Eats

Cancel your weekend plans. The 2023 Got to Be NC Festival opens at the NC State Fairgrounds today, May 19 at noon through Sunday, May 21 at 8 p.m. There’s free entry, free parking, plus piglets and fried egg throwing competitions galore.

Read on for some can’t-miss highlights and attractions.

Butterfly Barn

Learn about the life cycles of native butterflies while they flutter around you.

Carolina Cooker Skillet Skee-Ball

Skee-ball, but with fried eggs and cast-iron skillets. Head to the Graham corral at 11 a.m. to sign up to compete.

Chick Hatchery

Watch baby chicks be born.

A goat looking directly into the camera.

Head to the Agri-Plaza for animals like llamas, alpacas, and goats.

Photo by Owen S. Jordan Photography

Pardoned Thanksgiving Turkeys

Remember Chocolate + Chip, the 2022 pardoned Thanksgivings Turkeys? Meet ‘em in person.

Kenya Safari Acrobats

Incredible acrobatic displays meet stories of African culture.

Feeder Pigs

Say hi to feisty 30-pound feeder pigs.

Eats

Look forward to fudge, barbecue, ice cream, and fried fair fare.

Family
More from RALtoday
Raising Cane's Hixson, Tennessee location
Food
Raising Cane’s sets plans for Raleigh
No opening date is set for Raising Cane’s, but the famed chicken tender restaurant will get its first Raleigh outpost on Hillsborough Street.
February 7, 2025
 · 
Allie Remhof
RAL-Artspace-Dec22
Arts
Artspace awarded $80,000 grant from The Andy Warhol Foundation
Raleigh-based nonprofit Artspace was awarded thousands to support artists and exhibitions.
February 6, 2025
 · 
Danyale Daniels
RALtoday Sports & Social
Events
Where to watch Super Bowl 2025 in Raleigh
The biggest night in football is upon us and Raleigh is full of places to enjoy the big game. Find the best places in Oak City to watch Super Bowl LIX.
February 6, 2025
 · 
Danyale Daniels
TG Floristry resized
City
4 local gifts for your valentine
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Don’t be caught empty-handed — use our guide to classic gifts fit for your sweetheart right here in raleigh
February 5, 2025
 · 
Allie Remhof
Two beer cans of "Drop the Gloves" featuring two hockey players getting into a fight.
City
Trophy Brewing drops new beer option for Canes fans
Drop the Gloves is a new brew by Trophy inspired by Raleigh’s own NHL team that’s sure to please your Caniac crew.
February 5, 2025
 · 
Allie Remhof
The Raleigh skyline on a nice day.
Culture
We asked ChatGPT to cook up a roast of Raleigh
Wait until you see what this AI chatbot whipped up for a good-natured roast of Raleigh — covering everything from traffic to the food scene and weather.
February 4, 2025
 · 
Cat George
The exterior of the closed Hamlin Drugs.
History
The history of Raleigh’s Black Main Street
Join along as we remember the businesses that once lined East Hargett Street also known as Raleigh’s Black Main Street.
February 4, 2025
 · 
Anne Weber
Cherry blossoms in bloom at Duke Gardens
Development
Duke Gardens to receive a $30 million transformation
Duke Gardens is set to receive a massive remodel over the next year. Here’s what to expect on your next visit.
February 3, 2025
 · 
Danyale Daniels
A mural of a cardinal surrounded by bright flowers.
Play
20 colorful murals to see around Raleigh
Check out our guide to the many meaningful murals you can find around our city.
February 3, 2025
 · 
Anne Weber
Two ment dressed in balck suits with top hats — one is holding a scroll, the other is holding Punxsutawney Phil.
City
Snerd makes his Groundhog Day spring prediction
There’s nothing like the tradition of Groundhog Day when the anticipation of the furry friend’s prediction is high. See what Snerd predicted.
February 3, 2025
 · 
Danyale Daniels