Note: Authored by David Menconi, this piece has been produced in partnership with Raleigh Arts. Menconi's latest book, "Oh, Didn't They Ramble: Rounder Records and the Transformation of American Roots Music," was published in the fall of 2023 by University of North Carolina Press. His podcast, Carolina Calling, explores the history of the Tar Heel State through music.

Returning for its 11th edition, the North Carolina State Fair’s long-running Homegrown Music Fest is back for 2025. This year’s model will feature two stages with 30-plus acts putting on more than 100 performances during the 11-day run of the N.C. State Fair’s 157th year, Oct. 16-26 at the Fairgrounds on Blue Ridge Rd. in Raleigh, N.C.

Live music is just one of the attractions at the Fair, along with nightly fireworks, rides, agricultural displays and an extensive menu of deep-fried delicacies. All of the live music performances are free to attend with paid gate admission, which is $13 for adults and free for all children younger than age 6.

[Related: Our Guide to the N.C. State Fair]

Ticket discounts are available for groups, seniors, youths and members of the military, as well as advance purchases. Another ticket option is Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day, which is Oct. 23—fairgoers can exchange six cans of food for free admission.

Of note from the 2025 lineup are the ambient r&b stylings of Durham’s Tre.Charles on Oct. 17; a pair of finalists from the last two seasons of the NBC singing-competition show “The Voice” on Oct. 19, Garner native Robert Hunter and Christina Eagle from Catawba; and Raleigh’s venerable beach-music Hall of Famers The Embers Featuring Craig Woolard on Oct. 21.

The two stage locations are the same as in previous years. Near the Gate 7 entrance on Blue Ridge Rd., you’ll find the Live & Local Waterfall Music Stage Powered By Curtis Media Group by the waterfall just north of Dorton Arena. On the other side of the fairgrounds toward the northwest is the Heritage Circle Bluegrass & Folk Stage inside Gate 3, not far from the pond alongside Youth Center Rd.

“I’m always excited about all the acts, and I don’t think there’s a dud anywhere on this schedule,” says Amy Cox, project manager and senior vice president with Homegrown Music Fest producer Deep South Entertainment. “We try to be inclusive and diverse with our lineup, and we want all our acts to gain exposure. So they’ll all play multiple sets per day.”

The N.C. State Fair opens Thurs., Oct. 16 and runs through Sun., Oct. 26. You can see a complete daily schedule and map of the fairgrounds here.

Live and Local Waterfall Music Stage

• Oct. 16: Say Less The Band (Raleigh)
• Oct. 17: Genius Party (Triangle); Dallas Tetnus (Raleigh); Tre.Charles (Durham)
• Oct. 18: Lydia Sallett Dudley & Jazz Xpressions (Raleigh); Folknot (Greensboro)
• Oct. 19: Robert Hunter (Garner); Christina Eagle (Catawba)
• Oct. 20: Reserved Parking (Winston-Salem); Fancy Gap (Raleigh)
• Oct. 21: The Embers Featuring Craig Woolard (Raleigh); Funkelstiltskin (Boone)
• Oct. 22: Military Day Program with 440th Army Band; National Guard Band
• Oct. 23: Morgan Hudson Band (Greenville); Duck (Raleigh)
• Oct. 24: Dragmatic (Raleigh); Emanuel Wynter (Charlotte); Striking Copper (Wilmington)
• Oct. 25: Marcel Portilla Band (Charlotte); The Phoebes Band (Triangle)
• Oct. 26: School of Rock Raleigh; Landslide (Fleetwood Mac Tribute, Charlotte)

Heritage Music Stage

• Oct. 16: Jon Shain & FJ Ventre (Chapel Hill/Durham)
• Oct. 17: Story Charlemagne (Raleigh); Big Fat Gap (Chapel Hill)
• Oct. 18: Elizabeth McCorvey (Hendersonville); Yakamashi (Chapel Hill)
• Oct. 19: Parker Duncan (Triangle); Awen Family Band (Durham)
• Oct. 20: Megan Doss (Greensboro)
• Oct. 21: Massive Grass (Wilmington)
• Oct. 22: Morgan Creek Bluegrass (Chapel Hill)
• Oct. 23: Purebred Mutts (Cary)
• Oct. 24: Josh Daniel (Charlotte); Zack Lee (Grantham)
• Oct. 25: Tennessee Jed Fisher (Raleigh); Emily Burdett Duo (Wilmington)
• Oct. 26: Evan Blackerby (Winston-Salem); Pickard Mountain (Triangle)

Music typically runs from before noon into early evening or beyond. See the Fair's Homegrown Music Fest page for a schedule of performance times for each act.

^{Header photo by Justin Kase Conder}