Here's Friday's story about new rides at this year's fair, particularly the Sky Diver, a 1960s ride refurbished and updated with 100,000 LED lights. There's a photo gallery by Travis Long.

While you're checking out The N&O's coverage of the fair, be sure and watch this video from photojournalist Ted Richardson: Feeding the fair.

It's a great look behind the scenes at the food booth run by Raleigh's Westover United Methodist Church. Warning: We're not responsible if this leaves you hungry!

Ted and fellow photojournalist Travis Long also have this video of the first day of this year's fair. It nicely captures all the fun that young pals Malcolm McIntosh and Riley Niven have riding the rides, playing the games and eating the food.

Fair officials this morning promised that nearly all of the fair's 100-plus amusement rides would be operational today. By early evening, maintenance workers were hunkered over only a couple of them, including a mini roller coaster in which each of the cars were off to the side, resting on the asphalt.

But as the school and work days ended and the crowd began to grow, no one seemed to mind the few rides that weren't working. Lines began to form at some of the more popular ones including the Twister, above.

With sunny skies expected through the weekend, the lines will only grow.

courtesy N.C. State Fair

The state fair's newest roller coaster was christened "Toxic Shock," a name chosen from among 187 entries in a contest to name the ride.

Susan Ogden of Raleigh came up with the winning moniker for the Pinfarri RC-48, one of the largest portable roller coaster in the United States. For naming the coaster, Ogden will receive a prize pack that includes five admission tickets, t-shirts and ride books.

The fair's midway operator, Powers Great American Midway, chose the winner. The coaster will display its new name, Toxic Shock, and Ogden's name throughout the run of the fair.

If you head out to the fair for today’s opening half day, you’ll have a chance to pick a new name for the largest roller coaster on the midway.

The Pinfarri RC-48 is one of the largest portable roller coasters in the world, but apparently Pinfarri RC-48 doesn’t carry the same cache as “Vortex” or “Avalanche.”

So from the time the gates open at 3 p.m. until 11 p.m., Powers Great American Midways will accept your ideas for naming their baby. The company will announce the new name on Friday, and the winner will get a prize pack that includes five admission tickets, T-shirts and ride books, plus that feeling the comes with picking the best coaster name.

So take a look at the Pinfarri RC-48 and perhaps take a spin, then submit your name for the coaster at the guest relations booth, near the Commercial and Education Building in Kiddieland.