Dorton Arena
About
Dorton Arena is the landmark building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds on Blue Ridge Road, its curved roof recognizable from a distance. It is used through the year for shows and competitions, and it sits at the center of the fair each fall.
The North Carolina State Fair runs October 15 through 25, 2026, filling the grounds with agriculture and agribusiness displays, arts and crafts, free entertainment, rides, thousands of animals and competitions of every kind. For those ten days the fairgrounds become one of the busiest places in the state.
What to know
- The fairgrounds cover more than 300 acres with 400,000 square feet of building space.
- That space can be rented for events, with staff and amenities to support them.
- The State Fair has included livestock competition since 1853.
- A campground on the grounds serves visitors staying overnight.
- The fairgrounds draw visitors year-round, well beyond the ten days of the fair.
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