RALEIGH, N.C. — Sure, the annual North Carolina State Fair has bright lights along the midway, rides, music and hog races, but for many it can also be a culinary adventure.

Beyond the mainstay turkey legs and cotton candy, there’s a world of sweet and savory flavors at the fair. New offerings this year include Cuban eggrolls, Korean corn dogs, sweet potato country ham biscuits and so much more.

What You Need To Know

  • The N.C. State Fair runs from Thursday through Oct. 23 in Raleigh

  • Hundreds of food vendors will offer the classics like turkey legs and funnel cakes, but there are more adventurous options like Korean corn dogs and fried North Carolina flounder tacos

  • During a media preview Monday, members of the press awarded Raleigh's own Oak City Fish and Chips with the media's choice award for their "salmon pops"

  • The fair this year will also have a "bacon trail," with a map guiding fairgoers to the 40-plus vendors featuring bacon in some form or fashion

The fair opens at noon Thursday and runs through Sunday, Oct. 23 at the fairgrounds in Raleigh.

The media got a preview of the new foods at the fair this year, an annual event where members of the press get to sample their way through some of the weirder and more extravagant menu items from different vendors.

Members of the local press also vote on their favorite new fair food. This year, Raleigh’s own Oak City Fish and Chips took the award for media favorite with their “salmon pops,” a fried salmon skewered and topped with a half lemon.

“We know that people love salmon, but they’ve never tried it fried,” said Isaac Horton, with Oak City Fish and Chips. “Little crisp on the outside, succulent wet moist texture on the inside, and it’s seasoned to perfection.”

Raleigh food truck Chef’s D’Lites was on hand for the preview with Cuban eggrolls, with smoked ham, swiss cheese, slow-roasted pulled pork and sliced pickles, rolled up and fried. They did not win but did satisfy a number of reporters in the room with their Cuban on an eggroll.

“It’s not even about what place you come in, being here, it helps promote the business,” said Felicia Daniel with Chef’s D’Lites. “A lot of customers watch this and they see the new items and this is what they go for, so just being here is enough.”

The fair also attracts vendors from around the country. Joseph Haag is with Kora’s Cookie Dough, based out of Wisconsin. This is the vendor’s second time at the N.C. State Fair.

“Last year, we were a temporary vendor because somebody canceled, thankfully, we got a call this year that they had a permanent location for us so everybody will be seeing us here for years to come,” he said.

One new feature this year is the North Carolina Bacon Trail, a map that will lead fairgoers to the fair’s 40-plus food vendors that include bacon in their fair foods.