Does the SC State Fair have free parking this year? Here’s what to know

Thinking about going to the South Carolina State Fair, which starts Oct. 8?

Here’s what you need to know about parking. Parking is located in the Lexington Medical Center Fair Park. And it’s not free.

It costs $10 except on Oct. 18 when the University of South Carolina plays Oklahoma (this week Oklahoma is No. 5 in the AP poll so it could be a good one). Then, parking is $20, which fair organizers say ensures access for fairgoers.

Football parking passes are not valid on that day.

“Expect heavy traffic and delays throughout the day,” the fair advises on its website, asking for patience.

There are three gates to enter:

• Gate 6 (901 George Rogers Blvd.)
• Gate 7 (1041 George Rogers Blvd.)
• Gate 10 (901 Bluff Road)

Credit/debit cards and Apple pay only. Full-size school buses and senior care vans may drop off passengers through any of the gates.

Accessible parking is available for people in cars bearing a state official disability license plate or placard on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Parking proceeds benefit the fair’s Ride of your Life Scholarship program.

Discount tickets are available now through Oct. 7 at participating Circle K stores — $10 — and online at scstatefair.org — $11. During the fair — Oct. 8-19 — you can buy tickets for $15 at participating Circle K stores and $16 at scstatefair.org ($15 + $1 service fee)

General admission at the gate is $20, 55 and older $15 ($5 on Senior Day Oct. 15). Admission for children 5 and younger is free. On opening day it’s $5 at the gate.

The fair has a number of themes each day including, military day, college day and physics day for high school students.

Rides and activities

North American Midway Entertainment is providing a variety of rides and carnival games.

New this year is the Downdraft, where riders are made to feel a sense of weightlessness due to sitting in a circle, lifted up and spinning and tilting. Also new is a light-flashing, music pulsing Flash Dance, Mulligan Swing with a bird’s eye view of the midway, and the Tornado with spinning and rotating cars.

And of course there is most everybody’s favorite, the 150-foot Celebration Wheel, with 36 climate-controlled gondolas and a panoramic view of Columbia.

Don’t forget the animals.

There’s a petting zoo, Swifty the racing swine and swimming pigs, donkey and mule show and Paso Fino horses.

The fair website includes a list of all the competition livestock visitors can see, including horses, donkeys, cattle, pigs, sheep and goats.