The North Carolina State Fair opened for business Thursday, bringing people from all over the state to spend on entertainment in a tight economy.

This year, students want to take a more practical approach to their spending at the fair. Stephanie Presley, a sophomore in chemical engineering, said food and rides at the fair tend to be extremely overpriced.

“Everything at the fair is definitely way overpriced, but people keep buying it every year anyway so there is no reason for them not to make it all overpriced,” Presley said.

Paul Jones, the public information officer for the fair, does not think that ticket prices should be a problem. Currently, it costs $8 for an entrance ticket.

“Gate admission is fairly affordable; just $8, which is cheaper than going to the movies these days,” Jones said.

An entrance ticket does not cover food or rides, but does cover some performances and all exhibits. Jones said there is a lot of opportunity at the fair for people to have a good time without spending a lot of money.

“Once you’re in the gate you don’t have to spend another dime unless you want to,” Jones said.

Presley said she was excited to attend the fair, but disappointed because of the regular University activities with which it clashes.

“It’s exciting, but it really just means no home football games,” Presley said.

Devon Smiley, a sophomore in the College of Management who is originally from Delaware, is excited about the fair because it is considered such a big deal in North Carolina.

“I definitely want to go because I hear all the food is really good, and people never want to miss out on it when it comes around,” Smiley said.

Smiley is excited about the fair, but also wants to be smart about her spending when she attends.

“I probably wouldn’t ride any rides because it would be too expensive, but I would try at least one food item,” Smiley said.

Matthew Cumbee, a junior in chemical engineering, said he feels the fair is not worth the money for him personally.

“I probably wouldn’t even go. It’s too expensive, and I don’t like that you have to pay for rides separately,” Cumbee said.

Jones maintains it is a great value for students. Some new exhibits, such as Cultivate a Career, have been added this year. Cultivate showcases careers in agriculture.

“It highlights agricultural careers that people may not know about. It’s a pretty interesting booth that’s set up,” Jones said.

New food and rides have also been added to the fair this year. Deep-fried Kool-Aid balls and bubblegum have been added to the laundry list of fried items available at the fair.

A new ride, called the Skydiver, has also been added this year. Jones described it as being similar to a Ferris wheel but with the ability to spin the seat forward as you go around the wheel.

“It’s a refurbished ride from the ’60s. It’s a two-seater, and you can do barrel rolls while you go around,” Jones said.

Creating the fair is a year long process. When the current fair ends on Oct. 23, planning for next year will begin. Jones said that it takes a lot of work to make it happen, but it is always exciting when it all comes together.

“It’s one of the best entertainment values in North Carolina,” Jones said.