Destination State Fair: 5 don't miss free attractions

Our weekly Friday feature shifts its focus to the State Fair during these next couple of weeks. The fair, celebrating its 150th year this year, runs through Oct. 22 at the fairgrounds in west Raleigh.

Here are five of those free State Fair attractions:

For the second year, you can end your night at the fair with a laser light show over the pond near Gate 8, which isn't far from the grist mill and Heritage Circle. It happens 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., nightly.

New this year! Catch all kinds of bubble tricks, including the creation of a bubble caterpillar, bubble volcano, the dancing bubble, bubbles inside of bubbles and even a child inside a bubble. The Kiddieland stage is across Dorton Arena and not far from the Field of Derams.

Also new this year! Martial arts experts will wow crowds with high-flying, jaw-dropping performances that showcase an extraordinary display of extreme breaking and theatrics.

The Cutest Show on Earth is a high-energy, free show designed to get family members playing together. Kids dress up and become Star Performers in a live theater experience! Presented multiple times daily, each show features up to 18 kids of all ages chosen from the audience 10 minutes before show time.

Hand picked to create Jim Henson’s Muppets comic strip, Gilchrist has worked on notable cartoons such as  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Looney Tunes, Tom & Jerry, Fraggle Rock, The Pink Panther and The Muppet Babies. In the Field of Dreams, he'll tell interactive stories and illustrate on the spot.