South Carolina State Fairgrounds
The South Carolina State Fairgrounds has six exhibit halls and 104 acres, available for football parking and major event rentals throughout the year. The South Carolina State Fair brings 11 days of exhibits, competitions, food, midway rides and entertainment to Columbia each fall. At the fair, both the North Gate and the South Gate have self-service ticket kiosks.
Before you go
- Official site
- scstatefair.org
- Next festival here
- South Carolina State Fair, Oct 14 to 24, 2027
Worth knowing before you go
- Football parking gates open five hours before kickoff or at 8am, whichever is later.
- At the fair, both gates have self-service kiosks that take Visa or Mastercard, and a limited number of ticket windows still take cash.
- The fair has a clear bag policy and a youth policy.
- The fair offers free entry for people who want a calmer environment during Sensory-Friendly Morning.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Six exhibit halls on 104 acres · North Gate and South Gate ticket kiosks · Football parking gates open 5 hours before kickoff.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want a large state fair with exhibits, competitions, food and midway rides.
- You want a calmer visit and can come for Sensory-Friendly Morning.
Think twice if
- You are planning to camp: we don't yet have confirmed information about camping here.
Getting there and parking
For football parking, season car parking gates open five hours before kickoff or at 8am, whichever is later.
Festival-specific · South Carolina State FairThe fair has a North Gate and a South Gate. Both have self-service ticket kiosks that take Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards, and a limited number of traditional ticket windows still take cash.
Accessibility
We don't yet have confirmed information about accessibility at South Carolina State Fairgrounds. The venue's own pages are the place to check: scstatefair.org.
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at South Carolina State Fairgrounds. The venue's own pages are the place to check: scstatefair.org.
Food, water and what you can bring
Festival-specific · South Carolina State FairFood vendors at the fair are independent small businesses. The fair has a clear bag policy and a youth policy.
Sound and sensory
Festival-specific · South Carolina State FairThe fair offers free entry for people who want a calmer environment during Sensory-Friendly Morning, and an Exceptional Citizens Day for individuals with disabilities and a companion.
Recently at South Carolina State Fairgrounds
The 2026 South Carolina State Fair Commercial.
From the venue · Oct 2, 2026
Palmetto Championship Wrestling
From the venue · Aug 31, 2026
2025 Commercial for the South Carolina State Fair
From the venue · Sep 23, 2025
Quick answers
How big are the South Carolina State Fairgrounds?
The grounds have six exhibit halls and 104 acres, available for football parking and major event rentals throughout the year.
When do football parking gates open?
Season car parking gates open five hours before kickoff or at 8am, whichever is later.
How do I buy tickets at the South Carolina State Fair gates?
Both the North Gate and the South Gate have self-service kiosks that take Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards.
Can I pay cash at the fair gates?
Yes, at a limited number of traditional ticket windows.
Is there a sensory-friendly time at the fair?
Yes. The fair offers free entry for people who want a calmer environment during Sensory-Friendly Morning.
Who runs the food at the fair?
Food vendors are independent small businesses.
Can I camp at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds?
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at South Carolina State Fairgrounds. The venue's own pages at scstatefair.org are the place to check.
Is the South Carolina State Fairgrounds wheelchair accessible?
We don't yet have confirmed information about accessibility at South Carolina State Fairgrounds. The venue's own pages at scstatefair.org are the place to check.
A little history
The South Carolina State Fair was founded in 1869, and the nonprofit that runs it also manages football parking and rents the grounds as an event venue.
From the 1890s until 1969, the fairgrounds were winter quarters for hundreds of racehorses and their support staff from northern racetracks.
The fair brings 11 days of exhibits, competitions, food, midway rides and entertainment to Columbia each fall.