Friends share fair food at a lively North Carolina State Fair midway, with colorful rides and a Ferris wheel glowing at dusk.

Raleigh’s signature fall tradition is back.

The **North Carolina State Fair** opens today, **October 15**, and runs through **October 25** at the N.C. State Fairgrounds on Trinity Road.

Whether you come for the midway lights, agriculture exhibits, live entertainment, or simply an annual food adventure, the fair has a way of making an ordinary October evening feel like a full-on celebration. The key is arriving with comfortable shoes—and an appetite that is ready for a few bold choices.

For opening day, North Carolina college students can receive **$8 admission** by showing a student ID at the gate. Standard gate admission is **$13 for adults**, **$7 for youth ages 6–12**, free for children five and under, and **$5 for seniors ages 65 and older**.

If you have been waiting for the unofficial start of Raleigh’s fall social season, this is it. Gather your fair crew, pick your first snack stop, and give yourself permission to try something delightfully unexpected.

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Families and friends play on an interactive orange basketball tree sculpture with many hoops in a sunny city park.

Dix Park has added a new reason to bring a basketball on your next visit.

*“Orange Functional,”** a towering interactive public-art sculpture by Cuban artist **Alexandre Arrechea**, now stands in Flowers Field.

The bright orange structure rises **23 feet** and branches into **23 separate hoops**, inviting visitors to shoot, miss, cheer, and try again. It is art you do not just look at—it is art you can play with.

You will find it next to Flowers Cottage, making it an easy addition to a coffee, stroll, or family outing at the park. The installation is part of the Dix Park Conservancy’s broader focus on creating memorable public art that gives residents and visitors reasons to linger.

There is something wonderfully Raleigh about a sculpture that doubles as a pickup-game challenge. Bring a ball, invite a friend, and see how many of those 23 hoops you can hit before the sun goes down.

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Local entrepreneurs network and exchange ideas at a welcoming small-business summit, while a panel of procurement professionals speaks in the background.

Raleigh entrepreneurs looking to do business with public agencies have a timely opportunity this afternoon. The City of Raleigh’s annual **Small Business Summit** takes place today from **4 to 7 p.m.** at the Greg Poole, Jr. All Faiths Chapel at Dix Park.

The free event is designed for small-business owners who want a clearer picture of how government contracts work. Procurement professionals from across the Triangle will share practical guidance on preparing to apply, building stronger proposals, and competing with confidence.

The summit also offers a chance to ask questions and make local connections. Attendees will have networking time with City staff, state and county agencies, public schools, universities, nonprofits, and organizations that support small businesses.

Space is limited and pre-registration is required, so interested owners should check the official event page before heading over. It is a solid reminder that Raleigh’s small-business ecosystem is not just about opening doors—it is about helping local people find the right rooms to walk into.

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