RALEIGH, N.C. — Take yourself to fried food heaven as the 154th year of the North Carolina State Fair gets underway.

Organizers have prepared all year for the festivities, which begins Thursday, Oct. 13 at noon and runs through Oct. 23.

This year’s fair features 40 new foods to try, including options like a Thanksgiving-stuffed turkey leg, frozen banana pudding tacos, Pepsi-glazed mini donuts, a chicken bacon ranch waffle stick and much more.

Thrill seekers can choose from 90 ride options, plus 107 concerts and plenty of free grounds entertainment options.

N.C. State Fair Manager Kent Yelverton says people can save up to 45% off their ride tickets and more by ordering here in advance.

“You can have savings on your admissions tickets, your ride ticket, your public pass, sky gazer, flyer, all those things are cheaper in advance,” Yelverton said. “So go online, pick what you want to do now and buy it and come ready.”

Heather Overton has been working the N.C. State Fair for about 20 years now and shared what may be the best kept secret of the fair this year: a new parking lot. It’s called the Cardinal Lot, at 5766 Chapel Hill Road. You’ll find it off Highway 54 and Chapel Hill Road, just past the I40 Exit 290 on your way to the fairgrounds.

The Cardinal Lot holds an extra 2,500 parking spaces for free, with a shuttle bringing people to the new Gate 7 into the fair.

Because of a driver shortage, officials say their normal Park and Ride locations located further away from the fair are not available this year. They hope to have them back in service in 2023.

Another way to save money during the weekdays at the fair is to take part in the free lunch pass program.

If you stop by Gates 1 and 9 between the hours of 11:30-1:30 p.m., you can pay $10 cash and get your money back if you’re out of the fairgrounds by that 1:30 time.

For a full list of discounts and special days, click here.