ASHEVILLE – The North Carolina Mountain State Fair is in full swing at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher through Sept. 15.
Fairgoers have their fill of things to do, see and experience from the livestock arena to the midway of amusement rides and games.
The entertainment schedule is packed with live performances showcasing musicians, circus performers, swimming racing pigs and more extraordinary acts.
Fair food remains a favorite with endless options that range from the savory smokey brisket plates to sweet, fluffy cotton candy cakes in the Food Truck Alley and throughout the fairgrounds.
The Got to Be NC market in Chevrolet/Davis Event Center, which includes retail food and beverage vendors, celebrates the culinary movers and shakers from the mountains to the coast of North Carolina.
Peruse award-winning arts, crafts and agricultural creations displays in the Expo Building.
The search for the best vendors began when the N.C. Mountain State Fair opened on Sept. 6. On Sept. 8, ribbons were presented to winners in categories including Best Fair Spirit and the inaugural Best New Fair Food.
More is on the horizon before the fair closes for the year as contestants go head-to-head to show their culinary chops.
A local media judges’ panel including Citizen Times food and dining reporter Tiana Kennell, taste-tested and scored entries for the fair’s newest award, Best New Fair Food.
Mama’s Chocolates, based in Newton Grove, took the top prize for its gourmet Turtle Apple, a crisp Granny Smith apple grown in its orchard that was dipped in caramel then milk chocolate and covered with pecans and a drizzling of caramel and milk chocolate.
Sweet Vine Products in Stanfield was the runner-up for its Red Body Juice, a Muscadine juice made with locally grown grapes loaded with antioxidants and no added sugars or other additives.
Other judges were tapped to select the award recipients for vendors inside and outside the Chevrolet/Davis Event Center.
Inside vendor award winners:
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Best Fair Spirit – MacLeod Farms
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Best Educational – NC Forestry
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Judge’s Award – Doggie Delights
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Best Overall – Aw Shucks
Outside vendor award winners:
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Best Fair Spirit – Apple Dumplins’
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Best Educational – Army National Guard
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Judge’s Award – Baste Sauces and Seasonings
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Best Overall – Ninja Nations
Save the date for these live cooking competitions in the Chevrolet/Davis Event Center.:
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Sept. 10. Egg cooking contest at 7 p.m.
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Sept. 12. Blueberry cooking contest at 7 p.m.
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Sept. 13. Dairy producers’ cooking contest at 7 p.m.
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Sept 14. Apple cooking contest at 11 a.m.
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Sept. 15. Sweet potato cooking contest at 3 p.m.
North Carolina Mountain State Fair
When: Through Sept. 15.
Gates open at 9 a.m. Friday-Sunday and 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
The fair closes at Midnight Friday-Saturday and 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday.
Info: For more, visit wncagcenter.org/p/mountainstatefair.
State Fair prices, discounts and freebies
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Adults. $12 online and at the gate.
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Seniors aged 65 and up. $5.
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Children aged 6 to 12. $7.
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Children aged 5 and under. Free.
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Unlimited rides. $35 Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; and $25 Monday-Thursday.
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Sept. 11. is “We CAN Fight Hunger Day,” presented by Sheetz Convenience Stores and the N.C. Mountain State Fair, invites fairgoers to donate five canned goods for free admission. Canned goods will be collected and distributed by MANNA FoodBank.
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Sept. 13. Senior Day and Student Day. Admission is free until 6 p.m. for guests ages 65 and older and K-12 students.
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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Best New Fair Food, more winners to find at the NC Mountain State Fair
