Fans of the North Carolina State Fair (and those who are emphatically not fans) may associate the fair with bright lights, outrageous fried foods, and giant plush bananas inexplicably dressed like Rastafarians.
It can be difficult to imagine the state fair as an elegant event, but just take a look at this 1878 fair pass, our October Artifact of the Month:
Just for fun, here are two other passes, from regional fairs: one from the 1881 Sampson County State Fair, and one from the Great Albemarle District Fair in 1923.
If you’re going to the state fair this year, we trust you’ll keep it classy.