The South Carolina State Fair will open its gates on Wednesday, October 8, to kick off 12 days of rides, new food, and entertainment. The fair runs until Sunday, October 19, at the Columbia fairgrounds. Fair administrators have announced that the 2025 festival, themed “Harvesting Happiness,” will include roughly 70 rides.
Thrills on Midway
Fairgoers seeking fresh sensations will find them in three new attractions on the midway this year: the high-speed Downdraft, the music-driven Flash Dance, and the Mulligan Swing, which soars riders far above the grounds. Popular fair attractions such as the Celebration Wheel, Tornado, and Toon Town will also be returning.
Food and Entertainment Highlights
Aside from the rides, the Fair will add 15 new food and drink options to the menu of fair favorites. The new menu items include a Giant Tenderloin Sandwich, Parmesan Steak on a Stick, and a Deep Fried Cheesecake Trio.
The fair’s unique events begin on Opening Day, Wednesday, October 8, with $5 admission for all visitors at the entrance. Sandra Lee, a celebrity chef and cookbook author, will attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony and stay until Thursday, October 9, to conduct food competitions.
A large new exhibit, “SC250,” will be installed in the Ruff Building. This exhibit, sponsored by the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission, will look at the state’s role in the Revolutionary War.
The free daily CIRCUS at the Fair returns for its sixth year, with acts such as the Lopez Thrill Riders and aerial shows.
Know before you go.
General admission at the gate costs $20. Discount tickets are available till October 7. Seniors (55 and older) pay $15, except for Senior Day (October 15), when entry is $5. Children aged five and younger are free every day.
The fair has a mandatory clear bag policy; attendees cannot enter with bags or backpacks. Exceptions include clear bags, diaper bags with an infant, and medicinal supplies. To enter after 5 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays, and all day on Fridays and Saturdays, guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (21 or older).
