South Carolina State Fair
Fall festival · Columbia · South Carolina
Columbia's Rosewood Drive fairgrounds have hosted the state fair since 1869, with a midway, livestock and agricultural competitions, and deep-fried fair food running twelve days around mid-October each year.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Dates from the official announcement — always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: November 10–November 14
Color builds from October 28 · mostly bare by December 6
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at South Carolina State Fair’s own coordinates and elevation (59 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
South Carolina State Fair on the map
More things to do in South Carolina
Table Rock State Park
State parkPeak November 4
A granite monadnock rising 3,124 feet above the Blue Ridge foothills gives this park its name and its signature hike, an 8-mile round trip past Carrick Creek's cascades to a summit view that takes in South Carolina's clearest fall color.
Don’t miss: Table Rock summit trail · Carrick Creek Falls · Pinnacle Lake
Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin patchColor nearby peaks November 23
An autumn pumpkin patch on the grounds of Boone Hall, a 738-acre plantation founded in 1681 about eight miles from downtown Charleston and famous for its live oak avenue. One of several seasonal events the estate runs through the year.
Don’t miss: 738-acre estate founded in 1681 · Pumpkin patch under the live oaks · Eight miles from downtown Charleston
Denver Downs Farm
Corn mazeColor nearby peaks November 10
An Anderson County farm owned by the Garrison family since 1869, which turns over to a corn maze, fall festival and after-dark Pumpkin Nights each autumn. The farm also runs a sunflower festival earlier in the season and a fall music series.
Don’t miss: Corn maze and fall festival · Pumpkin Nights after dark · Garrison family land since 1869
Ghost City Tours (Charleston)
Ghost tourColor nearby peaks November 24
Charleston's history comes with a dark side, and this outfit walks it after dark. Pick from a family-friendly Ghosts of Liberty tour, a more graphic Death and Depravity tour for older guests, or a haunted pub crawl. Tours run every night of the year, rain or shine, from a meeting point near the waterfront.
Don’t miss: Three tour options, family to adults-only · Nightly departures, year-round · Meets near the historic waterfront
Frequently asked
- When is South Carolina State Fair open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Oct 15 – Oct 25. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does South Carolina State Fair peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 10–November 14 (best estimate November 12). Color starts around October 28 and is mostly bare by December 6.
- What is South Carolina State Fair best for?
- Classic state fair.
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