BY DAWN BAUMGARTNER VAUGHAN

dvaughan@heraldsun.com; 419-6563

RALEIGH — First, the answer to the question you really want to know: What’s the newest artery-clogging combo of fried and sweet at the N.C. State Fair this year? You have two new choices: chocolate covered bacon and fried Ho-Hos. They’ll join the menu of deep fried candy bars along with favorite fair fare like turkey legs, cotton candy, caramel apples and a range of biscuits, burgers, hot dogs and fries.

The color, light and motion of the concession stands and rides are what Wesley Wyatt, manager of the fair, likes best. Though fair staff cut back on some expenses like promotional items this year because of the economy, he said, it’s not the economy that will most determine fair attendance this year.

“Good weather is much more so a factor than economic conditions,” Wyatt said. He cited other state fairs this year that have done well despite the economy — Minnesota, Massachusetts, Ohio and Indiana.

Rain is forecast for the fair’s first two days, but it won’t stop the fair, which is a rain or shine event. Anything more than a drizzle could temporarily halt rides, but everything else will proceed as normal, said Paul Jones of the fair press office.

“Even if it’s raining, come on out,” he said.

Admission to the N.C. State Fair is $5 in advance, $7 at the gate. Tickets for children 6 to 12 are $1 in advance and $2 at the gate, and free for children 5 and under or adults 65 and older. Total fair attendance in 2008 was 765,067.

“The fair is still a very affordable activity for folks,” Wyatt said. “The fair has so much for people to do and see without spending a penny.”

Free things to do at the fair include watching the Circle C Racing Pigs, strolling performers, shows at the Kiddie Land Fun Park and musical performances on the Bluegrass and Waterfall stages. There are also exhibits like the miniature farm Field of Dreams, local food exhibit Got to Be NC, and Explore Green NC. There are craft demonstrations in Heritage Circle and the Village of Yesteryear. Animals abound at the State Fair Ark that showcases more than 60 top four-legged competitors. And there is the popular rabbit barn as well as the horse show and livestock and poultry competitions. The flower show is going on throughout the fair as well, as are arts and crafts and food competitions. Special cooking competitions are held each day of the fair.

Entries to the competitions have increased in nearly every category this year. Preliminary competition registration numbers total 7,662 for flowers, an increase of more than 400 entries. Horticulture entries have increased this year by nearly 1,000. Three hundred more people have entered 4-H competitions, and there are 417 more breads, cakes and cookies competing than last year. Food preservation contests also went up this year, by 297 entries.

N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler thinks the increase is partly due to the economy.

“People have been staying home and are interested in showcasing the things they have,” he said. Troxler spoke to the media at a preview Monday at the fairgrounds. We’ve been through a bad economic year, he said. “It’s state fair time, so let’s get happy.”

The theme for the 2009 fair is “A Whole Lotta Happy.”

“Look at what you get to do for five bucks,” Troxler said. “It’s the best entertainment value in North Carolina, and you can’t do it all in one day.”

There are some things at the fair that cost additional money, like the rides, games, shows like the tractor pull and demolition derby, and nightly concerts featuring performers like Third Day, Kellie Pickler, the Temptations, Jeremy Camp and Blake Shelton. Chapel Hill’s own American Idol, Anoop Desai, performs at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22. Tickets for his show are $5. Oct. 22 is also Food Lion Hunger Relief Day — admission is free with four cans of donated food. The Powers Great American Midway spent millions on upgrades for its fourth year in North Carolina. Seven new rides include a 109-foot-tall swing ride, a 200-foot-long slide and a kiddie ride called the Chopper Hopper.

The fair is reaching out this year through social media, including Facebook, Twitter and its own blog. As of Monday, the fair had 5,000 Facebook friends and 2,000 followers on Twitter.