South Carolina State Fair Returns with 46 Reasons to Celebrate

The South Carolina State Fair is set to make a vibrant return to Columbia from October 9 to 20, 2024, celebrating the state’s rich history and culture with the theme “46 Reasons to Celebrate South Carolina.” This theme honors the 46 counties in the Palmetto State, immersing fairgoers in a tribute to South Carolina’s diverse heritage, history, and people.

An array of entertainment is planned, including daily performances at the CIRCUS at the Fair, live music on stages like Pepsi Place Stage and Academic Avenue Stage, and roving performers throughout the fairgrounds. The Heritage Village will offer historical demonstrations, providing an educational encounter with re-created historical structures and demonstrations by craftspeople.

The fair showcases local talents through various competitions and displays, including a new Native Plants and Design Contest in the Cantey Building, featuring flower displays, and the Moore Building‘s exhibitions of crafts, quilting, and baking. Among the highlights are the S.C. Dip Showdown and the Spirit of Carolina Award, celebrating artwork that captures the essence of the state.

Agricultural roots remain a central component, with exhibitions showcasing South Carolina’s farming traditions. Visitors will enjoy home-grown produce displays, the innovative S.C. Seed Art-iculture contest displaying seed mosaics, and interactive games about farming sustainability in the “From Field to Fair” program. Additionally, new attractions such as the youth horse costume contest and entertaining events like the Swifty Swine Racing Pigs and Commerford Petting Zoo promise engaging experiences for attendees.

The fair also emphasizes safety and family-friendly policies, introducing a new youth admission policy requiring minors to be accompanied by a guardian of at least 21 years for entry after certain hours, and a mandatory clear bag policy for enhanced security measures.

Daily promotions and special admissions extend from daily pay-one-price ride tickets allowing unlimited rides to special senior pricing and military appreciation day, ensuring a wide array of accessible activities for visitors of all ages. The lunchtime ticket, which permits entry for a refundable fee during designated hours, offers additional flexibility for those wanting to experience the fair briefly.

Over 90 food stands will serve traditional and new fare, featuring additions such as strawberry dragon fruit lemonade, poutine burgers, and peach cobbler funnel cakes, keeping in line with the Southern flavor the fair is known for.

The South Carolina State Fair has also maintained its commitment to education through substantial scholarship programs, having awarded over $5 million since 1997 to support South Carolina students’ further education endeavors.

The fair continues to affirm its role as a major cultural and educational event in South Carolina, promising a year filled with engaging moments and learning opportunities reflective of the state’s character and growth.