Loosen belt, not wallet, for deep-fried fun
In just one short day, traffic near the stadium will begin to slow, and the smells of fried food and the screams of kids on rides will flood the area. That’s right: the South Carolina State Fair is back in all its fried-food-filled glory. Freshmen, as well as upperclassmen who haven’t experienced the unique experience that is the state fair, may not know what to expect, but the fair is much more than just creaky rides and corn dogs.
So take a break from studying for midterms, grab a few friends and head to the fairgrounds for some budget–friendly fun.
THE FOOD
The South is already notorious for its fried specialties, but the fair takes things to a whole new level. Vendors offer an array of fried candy bars, but they also give fairgoers interesting options like fried butter and footlong corndogs. If that still seems too traditional, go for a chocolate chip corn dog or the most impressively fattening item at the fair, the Krispy Kreme donut burger. Yes, that is a cheeseburger with two glazed Krispy Kreme donuts for buns. Just consider that for a second. Of course, the fair offers traditional choices like French fries, cotton candy, fried dough and all types of meats on sticks.
ATTRACTIONS
The attractions at the South Carolina State Fair are a bit more interesting than just a petting zoo (but don’t worry, there’s one of those, too). Of the dozens of daily attractions, guests can find wildly artistic sand sculptures, horse shows, the works of several local artists and large flower displays. Several of the attractions are all dairy. The fair includes a wild cow milking contest and probably the most unique contender, the “Moogician,” who will tell jokes and perform magic tricks with dairy products.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Columbia has been buzzing for months about the big names like The Band Perry, Hunter Hayes and Justin Moore, who will be hitting the Pepsi Grand Stand Stage during the fair. But there will be many more performances throughout the days that offer some entertainment for varied tastes. Local artists as well as a long list of Charleston musicians will be making appearances on the fair grounds, and there is sure to be plenty of country, honky tonk and bluegrass.
Thursday, Oct. 10, is college day, when students receive free admission by showing their student IDs.