North Carolina State Fair opens

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — The North Carolina State is opening for an 11-day run.

The fair opens at 3 p.m. Thursday and features a new mascot, Casey Cardinal.

Casey is actually a new take on an old mascot. Casey Cardinal was chosen in a contest in 1968. The cardinal is the state bird in North Carolina.

The fair features a new pavilion this year. The Tobacco Pavilion is being used for the opening ceremony, as well as the tobacco tying contest Friday and a mock tobacco auction on Oct. 24. It includes a huge stone fireplace.

There will be no live chickens, ducks, geese or baby chicks this year as state officials hope to prevent the spread of avian flu.

There will be a dozen new rides among the 95 on the midway.

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