County Fair Guide

The Oldest Fairs in South Carolina

South Carolina's oldest fair is the South Carolina State Fair in Columbia, running since 1869 — four years after the end of the Civil War. The Great Anderson County Fair followed in 1901, with the Piedmont Interstate Fair (Spartanburg, 1945), Coastal Carolina Fair (Charleston, 1957), and Western Carolina State Fair (Aiken, 1968) rounding out the state's oldest fairs. Here are South Carolina's fairs with the longest documented histories.

  1. 1
    South Carolina State FairColumbia, South Carolina
    Est. 1869October

    The South Carolina State Fair in Columbia is a 12-day October spectacular at the state capital, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from across South Carolina for livestock competition, entertainment, and fair tradition. Dating to 1869, it is one of South Carolina's oldest and most enduring agricultural fair traditions.

  2. 2
    The Great Anderson County FairAnderson, South Carolina
    Est. 1901May

    The Great Anderson County Fair in Anderson is an 11-day May celebration in the Upstate's electric city, one of South Carolina's largest spring fairs drawing families from the Piedmont region. First held in 1901, it has been a South Carolina agricultural tradition for over a century.

  3. 3
    Piedmont Interstate FairSpartanburg, South Carolina
    Est. 1945October

    The Piedmont Interstate Fair in Spartanburg is a six-day October celebration in the heart of the Upstate's manufacturing and BMW corridor, drawing families from across the Spartanburg metro. Established in 1945, the fair has brought South Carolina communities together for generations.

  4. 4
    Coastal Carolina FairLadson, South Carolina
    Est. 1957October

    The Coastal Carolina Fair in Ladson is an 11-day October-November fair serving greater Charleston, drawing hundreds of thousands of Lowcountry visitors for the region's premier fair experience. Founded in 1957, it has grown into a beloved annual event for the region.

  5. 5
    Western Carolina State FairAiken, South Carolina
    Est. 1968October

    The Western Carolina State Fair in Aiken is a 20-day October-November fair in the horse capital of the South, drawing visitors from the CSRA region of South Carolina and Georgia. Founded in 1968, it has grown into a beloved annual event for the region.

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