10/26/2025
Honoring the One Who Started It All – Al Beckwith “Big Al”
As we wrap up the 2025 North Carolina State Fair, our hearts are full of gratitude — and we want to take a moment to honor the man who started it all: Al Beckwith, founder of Al’s French Fries.
Al first came to the NC State Fair in 1957, setting up a small wooden booth he built himself. He began by selling ice cream, but before long, he found his true fair calling - hot, hand-cut French fries served fresh and simple. What began as one man’s idea grew into a beloved fair tradition spanning more than six decades.
Before running his booth full-time, Al worked for a local power company, CP&L. His strong work ethic and love for people showed in everything he did - from the long hours he spent cutting potatoes by hand to greeting every customer with a smile. He built his business on a few simple values: quality, consistency, and community. To this day, we still use local potatoes from Ford’s Produce in Raleigh and fry them in peanut oil — just as Al always insisted. And of course, it wouldn’t be Al’s French Fries without the classic malt vinegar, a flavor so many fairgoers look forward to all year long.
When Al passed away in 2004, his children and grandchildren carried on his legacy. Together, they’ve kept the same family recipes, the same spirit, and the same sense of pride that Al brought to the fairgrounds every October.
Today, as we close another fair season, we’re reminded that this booth is more than a business, it’s a family story. Every order of fries connects us to our roots and to the man whose hard work and heart made Al’s French Fries a name generations of fairgoers love.
Thank you, Al Beckwith — for starting it all, and for giving us something worth carrying on. ❤️
And to all our amazing customers, thank you for being part of our story year after year. Your smiles, memories, and loyalty keep Al’s spirit alive with every order we serve. From our family to yours — thank you for making Al’s French Fries a North Carolina State Fair tradition. We can’t wait to see you again next year! 🍟💛
