What to expect to see and eat at the new-look, drive-thru South Carolina State Fair

South Carolina State Fair organizers announced in July that this year’s event would look very different because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

More details were provided Thursday about what visitors to Columbia can expect to see, and eat, at the abbreviated S.C. State Fair later this month.

For the first time, the S.C. State Fair will be a drive-thru event, and there will be no charge for admission. The fair will take place on Oct. 20 and 21, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., organizers said in a news release.

Fair food will be made available from a separate entrance on those days, and more, as visitors can purchase Fiske fries, funnel cakes and other traditional fair favorites from a limited menu from Oct. 20-24, according to the release.

“This is our way of giving back to the community — this year has been difficult for all of us,” S.C. State Fair General Manager Nancy Smith said in the release. “We hope that folks will experience some of the wide-eyed wonder that they come to the State Fair for each year.”

Guests will enter at the North Gate on Rosewood Drive near the fair’s historic Rocket, according to the release. The route is estimated to take 20 minutes, and to ensure safety and control the flow of traffic, visitors will not be allowed to exit their vehicles, officials said.

Cattle, swine, goats, chickens, as well as draft mules and donkeys, will be visible from the car route, according to the release. Farm equipment will be on display, along with exhibits displaying blue-ribbon produce and flowers and, in the home and craft division, quilts and specialty cakes, officials said.

Nostalgic exhibits will include the heritage village, an antique fire truck, and memories from the popular CIRCUS at the fair that debuted at the State Fair’s 150^th anniversary last year, according to the release.

Officials said additional fair favorites visible to guests will include artwork by the ‘Chicken Man’ Ernest Lee, and student art, along with the sounds of the calliope, the milking parlor, and the famous Jupiter Rocket.

While there are no concerts or musical performances, visitors will be able to access a Spotify playlist of bands that have visited the S.C. State Fair over the years, according to the release.

“Our team is working hard to keep the traditions of the State Fair alive while prioritizing safety,” Smith said. “For over 150 years, South Carolinians have come together to celebrate our state’s agriculture, arts, history and more. This year’s celebration will look different, but will have all of the spirit and joy as years past.”

For those coming for the fair food, they will have to enter the fairgrounds at Gate 6 on George Rogers Boulevard, then wind through the parking lot until they reach six separate lines for fair food, all of which will have the same offerings, in an effort to keep the lines moving quickly and efficiently.

Organizers are also looking ahead to next year’s event, when they hope to offer a more traditional state fair. It is scheduled for Oct. 13-24, 2021.

While the S.C. State Fair has been changed, many other iconic events in Columbia and the Midlands have been scrapped this year. The state fair joins the Famously Hot New Year celebration, the Columbia Greek Fest, the Okra Strut in Irmo, the Rosewood Crawfish Festival, Indie Grits film festival, Columbia’s annual St. Patrick’s Day festival in Five Points, Camden’s Carolina Cup steeplechase races and the Lexington Wine Walk among other notable events that have been canceled, altered, or held exclusively online because of the ongoing pandemic.

2020 South Carolina State Fair Food Menu

The following fair food will be available from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Oct. 20-24:

▪ Fiske fries

▪ Corn dogs

▪ Sausage sandwiches

▪ Turkey Legs

▪ Funnel cakes

▪ Elephant ears

▪ Cotton candy

▪ Candy apples

▪ Caramel corn

▪ Pepsi brand 20 oz. bottled drinks and water

SOURCE: South Carolina State Fair

This story was originally published October 1, 2020 at 11:13 AM.

Noah Feit

The State

803-771-8435

Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription