Byline: Eboni Elliott, Guest Contributor
I spent the afternoon at the South Carolina State Fair, and it turned into one of those visits where time slips in the best way. I walked in thinking I would spend maybe a couple of hours, but the fair has a way of pulling you deeper. Everywhere I turned, there was something bright, loud, friendly, or completely unexpected. It felt like the whole place was built to shake the dust off a regular day.
My first stop was food. I went straight to Cup O’ Fries and grabbed a big yellow cup stacked with fresh fries. I drowned them in ketchup because that is the only correct way to start a fair adventure. Sitting next to it was my giant lemonade from Grandma Darl’s Original Lemonade Shake Up. The hot pink table practically glowed under the sun and made the whole snack look even better. Simple food, big flavor, zero regrets.
My first snack of the day, classic fair energy.
After eating, I walked toward the midway, and the Ferris wheel stood tall in the blue sky. It is impossible to miss. Everything around it buzzed with motion—kids running ahead of their parents, teenagers trying to act calm before a ride launched them into the air, grandparents strolling with a slower pace but smiling at the noise around them. The rides clattered, the music thumped, and the whole place felt busy in a comforting way.
People were especially friendly. Every vendor I passed greeted me like they were happy to be there, and it made the place feel almost neighborly. It surprised me how warm the atmosphere was. Even waiting in small lines felt easy because people chatted and laughed like it was the most natural thing.
After soaking up the sun outside, I headed to the exhibitions, which is always the part I look forward to most. The farm section was bursting with personality. Rows of animals filled the space, all of them groomed and clearly cared for—goats, cows, rabbits, chickens, you name it. Kids lined up to pet anything that would let them. Parents pointed things out with the kind of excitement they usually save for vacations.
The gardens and plants section was just as good. Giant vegetables sat proudly next to perfect blooms. There were herbs, arrangements, and produce displays that made you want to walk a little slower. It felt like a different universe from the midway—quieter and full of people who clearly loved working with their hands.
The art gallery ended up being one of the highlights of my day. It was calm and cool inside, and the lighting made every piece stand out. I spent the most time in front of a landscape painting from Goodale State Park by Jules Schurer. The painting was priced at seven hundred fifty dollars, and it was worth every bit of attention. The water, the reflection of the trees, the soft clouds—everything felt peaceful. After so much noise outside, that stillness hit hard.
Bright sky, rides spinning, and the afternoon crowd moving with purpose.
Goodale State Park oil painting by Jules Schurer
One of my favorite pieces in the entire gallery.
Leaving the gallery, I wandered through the rest of the vendors. Every booth had its own personality—handmade goods, local treats, crafts, art, small businesses—all of it felt like a celebration of South Carolina itself. People were proud of their work and generous with their stories. It added this layer of community that made the fair feel bigger than a place with rides and food.
By the time I reached the exit, the day had caught up with me. My feet hurt a little, my cup was almost empty, and the sun had shifted, but it felt like I was walking out of something bright and good. I enjoyed every part of it—the food, the friendly vendors, the animals, the gardens, and especially the art. It all blended into a day that was simple but full—the kind of day that sticks with you because it reminds you how much joy lives in everyday things when you slow down and just look.