Got to be NC Festival May 17-19

Got to be NC Festival will offer “three great days of down-home celebration North Carolina-style” May 17th, 2019, through May 19th.

Festival Gate Hours

Friday: 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

It takes place at North Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh. There is no general public parking inside the gates on the Fairgrounds during the Festival. All parking is located off Trinity Rd. There will be a free shuttle from Carter-Finley Stadium to Gate 9 during the peak hours of 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Saturday and Noon – 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Building and Exhibit Hours

Friday: Noon – 8 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Carnival Hours

Friday: Noon – 10 p.m.*
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.*
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

*May extend for one hour based on attendance

Fireworks

Friday: 9:15 p.m.
Saturday: 9:15 p.m.

Carnival Wristbands

Friday: Purchase from Noon to 9 p.m., good all day for unlimited rides
Sunday: Purchase from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., good all day for unlimited rides

Admission and parking are free and so is most of the entertainment, which includes:

Fireworks Friday and Saturday nights
Animals
Antique Farm Equipment
Carnival
Carolina Pig Jig
Homegrown Marketplace
Grandstand
Free family entertainment
Music
Cowboy circus
Feeder pigs
Garden tractor & lawnmower pull
Antique tractor pull
Heritage arts corner
Kids’ pedal tractor pull
Kidz Corral
Lauryn Zepeda with Gringo the Trick Pony
Oscar the Robot
Pig Patch Birthing Center
Pig races
Sand sculpture
Soap Bubble Circus

Some of the activities do have a fee, but they are clearly marked on the website:

Carnival Rides and Games
Food from Independent Vendors
Food Lion Local Goodness Marketplace (Local food, wine & beer vendors) – $3 adult admission
Pony Rides
State Fair Flyer – $5 one-way and $8 round-trip
Masonic Carolina Pig Jig – $15 adults (11 and up), $5 ages 7-10, 6 and under are FREE More Upcoming Festivals

Music Schedule at Got to be NC Festival

Friday, May 17:

3 p.m.: Russ Thompson (blues, folk)
4:30 p.m.: Jon Shain (piedmont blues, bluegrass, swing)
6 p.m.: The Gospel Jubilators (a cappella gospel jubilee singing)
7:30 p.m.: The Roman Spring (cinematic Americana)

Saturday, May 18:

3 p.m.: Africa Unlugged (world music with funky, soulful blues)
4:30 p.m.: Janxx (electronica singer/songwriter)
6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.: Four Founders (blues, funk, southern rock)

Sunday, May 19:

1:15 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.: SandBox (music for kids)
4:15 p.m.: Wake & District (Pipe & drum band)
5:45 p.m.: Paige Johnson (country singer/songwriter)

Carolina Bluegrass Battle:
Saturday, May 18th
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Black River Express
Cuttin’ Grass
Gabrielle Long & the Carolina Switchgrass
Hazy Ridge Bluegrass Band
Hotwax and the Splinters
Oak City Spring Band
One Fret Over