South Carolina State Fair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Carolina State Fair |
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View of the Fair in October 2014
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| Genre | State fair |
| Dates | 12 days (starting date varies in October) |
| Location(s) | South Carolina State Fairgrounds Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 33°58′41″N 81°01′19″W / 33.978°N 81.022°W |
| Years active | 1869–present (150 years except 1918) |
| Attendance | 473,359 (2014) |
| Area | 101 acres (41 ha) |
The South Carolina State Fair is a big yearly event in Columbia, South Carolina. It lasts for 12 days every October. This exciting fair is run by a group called the State Agricultural and Mechanical Society of South Carolina.
It's the largest event that happens every year in South Carolina. Over 400,000 people visit the fair each year! You can find fun rides, tasty food, and exciting games. These are provided by North American Midway Entertainment.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Fair
The idea of the South Carolina State Fair started a long time ago. As early as the 1720s, farmers in South Carolina held small fairs. They showed off their best crops and animals. They also had contests for homemaking skills.
How the Fair Began
In the early 1800s, local groups started holding fairs. They gave prizes for the best farm goods. In 1839, a statewide group was formed. Their goal was to create a fair for the whole state. State fairs were held in Columbia from 1841 to 1845. They happened again from 1856 to 1861.
In 1869, the State Agricultural and Mechanical Society of South Carolina was created. This group took over running the state fair. The fair was held on land provided by the city of Columbia. It helped promote farming and new industries in the state.
The fair has happened every year since 1869. The only time it didn't happen was in 1918. This was because of a big flu outbreak across the country. By 1903, the fair needed more space. So, in 1904, it moved to its current location on Rosewood Drive.
The Fair's Impact and Traditions
Since it started in 1869, the State Fair has helped the local economy. In the 1870s, the carnival part of the fair was on downtown streets. Thousands of visitors enjoyed the restaurants and shops. These places stayed open late every night.
For many years, from the 1890s to 1969, the fairgrounds were busy in winter. Hundreds of racehorses and their teams stayed there. They came from racetracks in the north.
A special day at the fair used to be "Big Thursday." This was the peak day of fair week. It often ended with a big dance called the State Ball. By the mid-1900s, "Big Thursday" was a state holiday. It was centered around a football game between the University of South Carolina and Clemson. The last "Big Thursday" game was in 1959.
Most state fairs closed during World War II. But the South Carolina State Fair stayed open every year. Also, from 1909 to 1969, another fair was held. It was called the Colored State Fair. This fair was for the African American community. It took place on the same fairgrounds the week after the main State Fair.
The Fair's Unique Role
The South Carolina State Fair is special in a few ways. Even though it's the official state fair, it's not run by the state government. It's a private, non-profit organization. This means it's a group that helps the community and doesn't aim to make money for owners. Its main goal is to help educate young people in South Carolina. Since 1997, the fair has given over $4 million in scholarships!
The fair has always shown what South Carolina is like. It promotes farming and industry. It also reflects the state's culture. In 1960, a newspaper wrote about the fair. It said the fair helps the state see how it's doing. It shows progress in farming, industry, science, and art. It also reflects the state's educational values.
Fun at the Fair!
The South Carolina State Fair offers lots of entertainment. For many years, famous bands and singers performed at the Grandstand.
Past Performances
Many well-known artists have played at the fair. Some of them include Chicago in 1970 and Golden Earring in 1974. Later, Billy Ray Cyrus played in 1995. Little Richard was there in 1998. Other big names were the Beach Boys and Hootie & the Blowfish in 2001. The Jonas Brothers and Daughtry performed in 2007.
More recently, artists like Darius Rucker, Eric Church, and Miranda Lambert played in 2010. Styx and Skillet were there in 2011. Doobie Brothers and Boyz II Men performed in 2012. Hunter Hayes and Foreigner played in 2013. MC Hammer and Marshall Tucker Band were there in 2014. Shawn Mendes played in 2015. Lynyrd Skynyrd and Alabama performed in 2016. Chris Young played in 2017. In 2018, you could see Bret Michaels, The Temptations with The Four Tops, Trace Adkins, and Scotty McCreery.
Current Entertainment
The South Carolina State Fair stopped having Grandstand concerts after 2018. Now, in place of the Grandstand, there's a Circus Tent. This tent offers three free circus shows every day of the fair. The fair also has free nightly concerts at its Pepsi Place Stage. These shows feature talented local and regional artists.
Meet Me at the Rocket!
At the north entrance of the South Carolina State Fairgrounds, you'll see a giant "Rocket." This rocket is a Jupiter intermediate range ballistic missile. It was designed by Dr. Wernher von Braun. Chrysler built it. Its name is Columbia. The U.S. Air Force gave it to the city in the early 1960s.
In 1969, the "Rocket" was put up at the fairgrounds. It cost $10,000 to set it up. Over the years, this landmark has become a popular meeting spot. People often say, "Meet me at the Rocket!"
Recent Fairs
In 2020, the fair was different because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of the usual fair, there was a free drive-through event. It happened on October 20–21. In 2021, the fair returned to its more traditional experience.
The most recent South Carolina State Fair took place from October 11 to October 22, 2023.
