SC State Fair offers sneak peek at festivities as contests ‘Rooted in Fun’ open

Watch out creatives, farmers and cooks alike. The South Carolina State Fair has just unveiled its contest exhibitions for 2026, including seven new contests.

“Whether it’s a family recipe, a handcrafted quilt or a piece of artwork, every entry represents the passion and pride of our communities,” Nancy Smith, general manager of the S.C. State Fair, said in a release. “We look forward to celebrating those stories with fair-goers from across the state this October.”

South Carolinians are free to submit their entries from now until Sept. 1. Contest hopefuls can submit entries in 16 categories, including flowers, fine art and agriculture.

The fair is offering more than $300,000 for winners, so if you want to try your hand at earning a blue ribbon, specific applications and rules can be found on the State Fair’s website. The 2026 State Fair will go on from Oct. 15 to Oct. 18 at the State Fairgrounds near Williams Brice Stadium.

The year’s theme, “Rooted in Fun,” has inspired new contest exhibitions including a carrot cupcake showdown and a root vegetable appetizer contest.

But that’s not all that’s new this year. With America (and South Carolina) turning 250 years old, several exhibits aim to celebrate the state’s birthday, including a contest for patriotic murals made entirely of seeds.

Whether you’re a participant, onlooker or just there for the fried food, Smith says the contest exhibits are key to the S.C. State Fair’s identity.

“Competitive exhibits tell the story of South Carolina and are at the heart of the fair experience,” she said.