2010 Got to Be NC Festival

Horsepower of the four-legged and mechanical varieties will compete and entertain during the Got to Be NC Festival May 21-23 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Horse pulls, antique-tractor pulls and lawn mower racing will be on tap at the Sam G. Rand Grandstand. Festival admission and parking are free. Admission to grandstand events is $5, and tickets will be available at the grandstand box office. Teams of draft horses will test their might against a weighted sled Friday, May 21, beginning at 6 p.m. Teams interested in competing in the draft horse pull should register by May 7. Registration information is online at http://www.ncagfest.com/. The horse pull will be preceded by a stick-horse race for children at 5 p.m. Registration for the race will begin at 4 p.m. at the grandstand entrance, and stick horses will be provided. The race is open to children ages 2 to 5, and the first 50 kids to register will compete. Antique-tractor pulls are set for Saturday, May 22. Pulls will run from noon to 5 p.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. They are sanctioned by the Old Time Tractor Pullers Association and the Carolina Antique Tractor Pullers Association, respectively. On Sunday, May 23, from noon to 9 p.m., members of the American Racing Mower Association will race souped-up lawn mowers around the oval at speeds up to 60 miles-per-hour. Teams will participate in junior- and adult-racing classes to earn trophies and points toward a national championship. “Lawn mower racing was a really popular attraction at last year’s festival, and we’re excited about bringing it back again,” said Jim Knight, festival manager. The Got to Be NC Festival is presented by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Attractions include a full carnival, the North Carolina Food Expo, antique farm equipment, a fiber fair and more. Festival hours are 9 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.