Final food and ride inspections underway for 2026 North Carolina State Fair
By WRAL staff
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North Carolina (WRAL) — The North Carolina State Fair opens Thursday, and after a deadly accident at a Six Flags Amusement Park in Georgia, safety is top of mind for most fairgoers.
On Tuesday, the North Carolina Labor Commission inspected nearly 100 carnival rides, including the new 230-foot-tall ferris wheel.
Ride inspectors demonstrated how they inspect the parts and mechanics of each fair ride. While the attractions are fun, safety is a priority.
Just one day after a man died after falling from a roller coaster at Six Flags in Georgia, WRAL News asked Luke Farley, the state’s labor commissioner, what his team is doing to keep fairgoers safe.
“We’re in contact with the folks in Georgia, both the authorities and the ride operator down there, to understand what happened so that we can learn and apply lessons to the rides here in North Carolina. But the rides we’re going to be looking at here today are different,” Farley said.
Farley said inspectors will spend close to 1,000 hours inspecting rides. Even though the fair opens Thursday, Farley said inspections will continue until closing day.
“That means we will have inspectors on site making rounds all throughout the fair, the run of the fair, checking on these rides, talking to the operators to make sure that things are working the way they should,” Farley said.
He also encouraged fairgoers who witness or experience any issues on rides to report those concerns to state fair officials.
On Wednesday, inspectors will be at the fair again to make sure food is stored at proper temperatures, that equipment used for food is clean and functioning properly, and that food tents and trucks are sanitary.
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