RALEIGH — The N.C. State Fair will play host to a number of special events for youth, senior citizens, and servicemen and women during its 11-day run in October. In addition, fairgoers can take advantage of free or reduced admission days and participate in an event sponsored by local Subway restaurants.

On Preview Day, Thursday, Oct. 15, State Fair visitors will pay a discounted admission price of $1 for children ages 6-12 and $5 for adults. In addition, Preview Day Ride Wristbands will be available for $25, and will be good for unlimited rides from 3:30 p.m. to midnight on Preview Day only. Wristbands will be on sale at ride ticket booths on the fairgrounds.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of 4-H in North Carolina, and Monday, Oct. 19, will be “Youth Celebration Day” in honor of the milestone. Current members and 4-H alumni will gather for commemorative activities at Dorton Arena. The anniversary will be highlighted throughout the Fair’s 11-day run.

Senior citizens age 65 and older get in free every day of the Fair, but from 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, they can also enjoy a free breakfast and entertainment at the Senior Citizens Fun Festival. The event, sponsored by Bojangles’, will take place in Dorton Arena.

Also on Oct. 20, the Subway “$5 Footlong Song Challenge” will take place on the Kitchen Craft Waterfall Stage at 1:30 p.m. Five contestants who submitted original lyrics about the State Fair and Subway footlong sandwiches will perform their songs onstage. Special guest judges from radio station G105’s “Bob and the Showgram” will choose the winner, who will receive a $500 Subway gift card and tickets to see Anoop Desai in concert at Dorton Arena on Thursday, Oct. 22. For contest details, log on to www.footlongsongchallenge.com.

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the State Fair will pay tribute to members of the U.S. military. Active-duty, reserve and National Guard service members or spouses with valid military ID will be admitted free along with four guests. The day is filled with special military-themed activities at the Waterfall Stage beginning at 11:45 a.m. Performances will include the 2nd Marine Division Band and the U.S. Air Force Blue Aces rock band. Local high school ROTC drill teams also will participate in the festivities during the first State Fair JROTC Review.

Fairgoers can bring four cans of food to the Fair on Food Lion Hunger Relief Day, Thursday, Oct. 22, to receive free admission. Hunger Relief Day is one of the largest one-day canned-food drives in the state, held each year to benefit the 34 N.C. counties served by the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. With the sagging economy and higher fuel and food costs, the food bank has been struggling to keep up with demand, making the food-raiser especially important. This year, the State Fair has set a goal to collect at least 200,000 pounds of food during the popular event. While only four cans are required to gain free Fair admission, fairgoers who are able to donate extra cans to help stuff the food bank warehouse are encouraged to do so.

The State Fair runs Oct. 15-25 at the State Fairgrounds. For more information, go to www.ncstatefair.org.