SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR E-NEWS

The State Agricultural and Mechanical Society of South Carolina

FALL 2004 FAIR DATES ~ OCTOBER 7-17 COLUMBIA

www.scstatefair.org

Fair admission gates will open at 12:00 Noon on Thursday, October 7 and the South Carolina State Fair will run for eleven (11) FEEL GOOD FUN days! Browse the web site by clicking on the menu tabs located above in the orange strip.

MEET YOUR MAMA AT THE ROCKET (North Gate) AND YOUR DADDY AT THE FLAG POLE (South Gate)! Announcing a new landmark on the Fairgrounds. Join us on opening day, Thursday, October 7 at 1:00 PM just inside the South Gate for the ceremonial dedication of the new 80' tall flag pole. Dignitaries from Fort Jackson along with the Fort Jackson Army band will be on hand as we raise the "Stars and Stripes" to fly over the 135th Edition of the South Carolina State Fair. As a special tribute to our military service men and women, all active military personnel in uniform will be admitted FREE each day of the fair.

The South Carolina State Fair is proud to offer the following entertainment at the PEPSI® Grandstand with musical artists Montgomery Gentry, Steven Curtis Chapman with Chris Tomlin, Jeffrey Osborne, A Salute To The Grand Ole Opry, Herman's Hermits and Paul Revere and the Raiders, Newsboys, Carrot Top, and Lonestar with Jimmy Wayne. Click on the PEPSI Grandstand link above for dates and times and follow the links to purchase tickets online beginning September 7, 2004.

Budget Conscious? Stretch your fair entertainment dollars by ordering gate admission and PEPSI® Grandstand tickets, as well as Conklin Ride and Pay-One-Price (POP) Ride vouchers in advance of the opening day of the Fair. Click on Advance Ticket Purchase for details. You may also purchase gate admission tickets, ride and POP vouchers at selected Piggly Wiggly stores statewide.

Back by Popular Demand is the Pay-One-Price Ride Promotion! Prices for Ride Vouchers are $16 when purchased in advance of the fair and, if purchased during the Fair, $18. Ride all day on the following Pay-One-Price Days: October 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 14. Ride vouchers may be exchanged at any Conklin ticket booth for a Pay-One-Price wristband or a 44-coupon card if you attend on a day other than a POP Ride Day.

Click on FAQ'S (Frequently Asked Questions) and find the most commonly asked questions and answers right at your fingertips!

Student Day is Friday, October 15. Students age 18 and under admitted FREE from 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Chaperones must have an admission gate ticket.

FREE PARKING is available on a first-come basis in all SC State Fair parking lots!

Check out the Daily Schedule of Events and Entertainment and use the Plan Your Day At The Fair (will be available in early October) function to schedule all the things you want to see and do during your visit. Print your agenda and bring with you to the fair. Find all the Special Gate Promotion Days listed on the Daily Schedule of Events and Entertainment as well as gate opening times.

Take advantage of the Lunch at the Fair deal each week day (Monday-Friday) of the Fair. From 12:00 Noon until 2:00 PM, leave a $5.00 deposit in exchange for a "token" at the specially marked "Lunch at the Fair" gate, then purchase your lunch and visit the fair while on your lunch break. When exiting the fairground gates by 2:00 PM, turn in your "token" and receive your $5.00 deposit back. Come everyday during the fair and enjoy the great Fair Food that comes but once a year. What a Deal!

Free Stage Shows include Cirque Equinox, a Live Shark Encounter!!!, De 'Anna the Hypnotist, Dennis Lee, The Nerveless Nocks, Sway Poles & Tower of Chairs, Globe of Death & Comedy Bike Show, Kandu Magic Variety Show, and performances by SC students.

Special Attractions include "America's Ultimate Fashion Doll" Exhibit in Cantey Building, "Under the Sea" Sand Sculpture in Ellison Building, Andes Cosmos located outside of Ruff & Moore Buildings, "SC Society of Miniatures" Display in Moore Building, Commerford & Sons Petting Zoo on the County of Avenues, and "Wild Science Gone Ag" in Cantey Building.

Roving the Grounds Entertainment include Carrie Mc Queen"Lady Stiltwalker & Variety Artist", Hillbilly Bob "A Slice of Americana", Dale Jones Comedy One-Handed Juggler, the SC State Fair Calliope with Pat Wilson, Denny the Clown, and The Procrastinators.

Red Hatters Unite! On Wednesday, October 13, Red Hatters and their younger sisters, the Pink Hatters, will be admitted free all day when wearing their Red Hatter regalia (red hats with purple garments) and Pink Hatter regalia (pink hats and lavender garments). Red Hat Chapters are encouraged to attend as a group and flash  their colors on this day set aside especially  for these ladies who are always ready for FEEL GOOD FUN!!!

Vote for your favorite zoo baby from Riverbanks Zoo at the ETV Booth located in the Ruff Building! Your vote enters you into a drawing to win one of the following prizes:

ONE (1) Grand Prize Winner (to be chosen from the pool al ALL ballots we receive) will receive:

A Riverbanks Zoo & Garden Gift Pack which will include:

• $20 work of Safari Bucks
• A Riverbanks Zoo T-shirt
• Certificate of adoption of the baby animal they voted for
• One-year Family membership to the Riverbanks Zoo
• A behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo for one family
• Four (4) tickets to "Sesame Street Live" at the colonial Center on November 14, 2004

Three (3) other Major Prize Winners will receive:

• $20 worth of Safari Bucks
• A Riverbanks Zoo T-shirt
• Certificate of adoption of the baby animal they voted for
• One-year Family membership to the Riverbanks Zoo
• Four (4) tickets to "Sesame Street Live" at the Colonial Center on November 14, 2004

Several lucky "Honorable Mention" voters will receive 4-packs to "Sesame Street Live," and one-day tickets to the zoo or tickets to the zoo's new 3-D theater to see the film "SOS Planet".

COMPETITIVE EXHIBITS ONLINE PREMIUM GUIDE: All deadlines have passed for registration in the 2004 Competitive Exhibits. Entry registration began on July 16, allowing exhibitors almost two (2) months to register entries either using the Online Entry System, printing an official entry form from the web site, or coming into the Fair Administrative Office and completing an entry form.

This is an exciting time for fairs across the United States as we customize and merge new technology with tradition. Hard cover premium books are being replaced by Online Premium Guides. This year SC State Fair Exhibitors of the fourteen (14) different Competitive Exhibit departments enjoyed the convenience of the new Online Entry System. Exhibitors could also download (print) an entry form from the web site and mail to the Entry Department to be received by midnight of the department closing date. We have watched the number of new exhibitors grow since 2002 and anticipate a record number of new competitive exhibitors to register entries to the fair in 2004.

AGRICULTURE, FLOWERS, HOME & CRAFT, FINE ART, STUDENT ART:

• Visit the Moore Building to view the handiwork of some of South Carolina's finest craft makers, quilters, bakers, and seamstresses.
• In the Cantey Building you'll be awed at the juried collection of Fine Art and Student Art by South Carolina Amateur and Professional artists.
• Also in the Cantey Building, stop by the Agriculture Department where you'll find South Carolina field crops, fruit, nuts, honey, wine, vegetables and Christmas trees on display.
• Check out the Roadside Market which offers Fair guests the opportunity to purchase fresh SC produce daily during the fair.
• Escape into the Ellison Building to view and smell the commercial garden displays and competitive exhibit roses, camellias, gladiolus, dahlias, chrysanthemums, potted plants and cut horticulture.

WHERE'S THE BEEF? No trip to the South Carolina State Fair is complete without visiting the livestock barns and horse arena where on different days you will find dairy cows, beef cows, dairy goats, donkeys, mules, draft horses, sheep chickens, ducks, geese, cavies, waterfowl, rabbits, wildlife, swine, horses, and wether goats.

• Judging schedules are listed on the web site so plan to catch a show while you are at the Fair.
• A warm welcome to our State Veterinarian who will be present during the entire run of the fair.
• Please note the Hand-Washing Stations located around the livestock barns. Be sure to wash your hands after your visit to see the animals at these convenient wash stations made attractive by the art students at A. C. Flora High School. Many thanks to these budding artists!!!
• The South Carolina State Fair is pleased to serve this year as the Host site for the International Nubian (Goat) Breeders Association (INBA) District Specialty Show on Sunday, October 17.

There's much more to be found at www.scstatefair.org so log on and make your plans to visit the South Carolina State Fair. Every second is a thrill ~ from rides that make your head spin to intense shows that leave you breathless ~ there's enough excitement to keep you busy for eleven days! We'll be looking for you and hope you will return again and again for loads of   FEEL GOOD FUN!