Photo by @curatednc Every September as the summer comes to a close, the WNC Ag Center turns into the giant, candy-colored playland that is the North Carolina Mountain State Fair. From 9/7 - 9/16 the fair will be celebrating its 25th year with more of everything we've all come to expect and love: the giant ferris wheel, swinging legs above us on the Sky Line, waiting anxiously to board wonderfully loud, whirly rides, eating our weight in fried (almost) anything and meats on sticks, trying too hard to win some sort of ginourmous stuffed animal, checking out the art, animals, and...oh, the people watching. Photo by Glenn English via @smallmeasure  There's something special about the fair being a place where all kinds of different folks congregate to act like wide-eyed kids together along with all the wide-eyed kids. The fairground is especially magical at sunset over the mountains and of course at night when it becomes a spectacular sea of neon lights. (Check out #ncmountainstatefair on Instagram to see for yourself if you have never been.) Additionally, it is super accessible with free parking and totally reasonable admission prices from free for kids under 5 to $9 for adults and deals like $20 ride-all-day passes (plus price of admission).  Special Days @ A-Glance >>

• Friday / September 6th -- Opening Day -- From 9am - 6pm -- students K-12 get in FREE // From 9pm - 1am -- Friday Night Frenzie where $25 includes admission + unlimited rides
• Wednesday / September 12th -- Ingles Day -- FREE admission with 5 cans of Laura Lynn brand foods from Ingles
• Friday / Septeber 16th -- Closing Day -- Another Friday Night Frenzie from 9pm - 1am where $25 includes admission + unlimited rides

For the full schedule, hours, all other specials + additional information, visit their website here.