South Carolina State Fair
- Dates
- Oct 15 to 25, 2026
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- South Carolina State Fairgrounds
- Price
- $10 to $20
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Oct 14, 2026
South Carolina State Fair returns to Columbia, SC, Oct 15 to 25, 2026. Froligo tracks current ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
What to eat & drink
The organiser's Food & Drinks page states the fair has more than 90 food stands, built around classics like Fiske Fries, foot-long corn dogs, Greek salads, turkey legs and fried Oreos, alongside a published list of 2026 new concessions (Tanghulu, Pickle Barrel Sirloin Tips, Dole Whip, Hot Blue Taki Fries, and several Deanna's Diner and Deanna's Drinks items) and a $5 Menu of discounted classics at named vendor locations.
The experience
What's special
The South Carolina State Fair runs eleven consecutive days each October at the state fairgrounds in Columbia, a site the fair has used since 1904 and a tradition the organiser dates to 1869. Discount gate admission starts at ten dollars at participating Circle K stores before the fair opens, rising to twenty dollars general admission at the gate once the fair is underway; children five and under are always free, and admission drops to five dollars on both Opening Day and Senior Day. Carnival rides are priced on top of that gate admission, sold as a Pay-One-Price unlimited wristband or a reloadable ride card running from thirty-two to forty-two dollars depending on when and where it is bought, with loose ride tickets available by the sheet for those who want fewer rides
What people love
The organiser names its iconic Rocket landmark at the North entrance, erected in 1969, as a widely recognized meeting place, and describes food as central to why fairgoers return year after year for classics like Fiske Fries and foot-long corn dogs
Music & entertainment
Lineup not yet announced. Email me the day it lands.
Getting there
How do I get to South Carolina State Fair?
By car
Most people drive to South Carolina State Fair. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
Taxi & rideshare
Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. Cost $10 per vehicle (credit/debit card or Apple Pay only, no convenience fee, no returns), except $20 per vehicle on Saturday, Oct. 24, when the University of South Carolina hosts Tennessee at adjacent Williams-Brice Stadium. Enter through Gate 6 (901 George Rogers Blvd.), Gate 7 (1041 George Rogers Blvd.) or Gate 10 (901 Bluff Rd.) into the Lexington Health Fair Park lot. Parking and drop-off are free for full-size school buses and senior care vans. Accessible parking at the same gates is $10, restricted to vehicles with a state-issued disability placard or plate, first-come first-served. Reserved football parking passes are not valid during the State Fair. All parking proceeds support the Ride of Your Life Scholarship program
🚙 Car hire
Where
Venue
South Carolina State Fairgrounds
Accessibility & comfort
What the organiser or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.
The organiser's Accessibility page: ADA-accessible ticket booths at both the North and South gates; wheelchair-accessible restroom stalls throughout the fairgrounds plus a family restroom in the Goodman Building sized for a wheelchair user and an attendant; an adult changing area available at First Aid/Guest Services near the Rocket; stroller ($15/day), wheelchair ($20/day) and scooter ($60 for 4 hours, $10/additional hour, $20 refundable deposit) rentals at the South Gate via Cotton Novelties, with wheelchair delivery to the North Gate by phoning ahead; service animals (a dog or miniature horse trained for a disability-related task) welcome throughout but not permitted on rides, with emotional support animals explicitly excluded and pets not permitted; accessible parking at Gates 6, 7 and 10 restricted to vehicles with a state-issued disability placard or plate
Confirm your specific needs with the organiser's access team before you travel.
Pricing
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