If you’re ready for Ferris Wheels, funnel cakes and fun games, you’re in luck because it’s fall fair season in the Augusta area with both the Georgia-Carolina State Fair and the Western Carolina State Fair opening to patrons on Oct. 16.
The gates will open at 5 p.m. Friday in both Aiken and Augusta.
The Exchange Club of Augusta held its opening ceremonies on Oct. 15 at the fairgrounds. The club has operated the fair since 1923.
In Augusta, the James E. Strates Shows brings fair favorites such as the Tilt-A-Whirl, Himalaya, Zero Gravity Zipper to the Exchange Club of Augusta Fairgrounds on Fourth Street, according to the Georgia-Carolina State Fair website.
The midway will feature a variety of chances to win prizes and plenty of fair foods from funnel cakes to French fries to cotton candy.
Special activities include a petting zoo, pony rides and pig races. The Miss Georgia-Carolina State Fair contest is Oct. 24. And the livestock competitions will be back.
In Aiken, the fair opens with a smash as a demolition derby has drivers battling to be the last car running in the Bridgestone Arena at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 and 4 p.m. Oct. 18.
The Western Carolina State Fair will bring its share of rides, live entertainment, blue-ribbon competitions and fair food. Other attractions included with admission are Sea Lion Splash, Cowtown USA Petting Zoo, the All American High Dive team, local performers on the community stage and professional rodeo Oct. 24 and 25, according to a news release.
Catch Jason Sikes’ Tribute to Elvis with special guest The Milestones on the Community Stage on Oct. 23.
For the full entertainment schedule in Aiken, admission specials and tickets, visit LetsRideAiken.com; for ticket specials and other information about Augusta’s fair, visit Georgiacarolinastatefair.com.
Both fairs run through Oct 25.
The Merchants Association of Columbia County will present the Columbia County Fall Fair Nov. 5-Nov. 15 at the fairgrounds on Columbia Road.
Mike Adams is a veteran photographer who has won multiple South Carolina and Georgia Press Association Awards in his career including nine in 2026 for Augusta Good News. During his career, he’s photographed for several news outlets including The Augusta Chronicle and the Aiken Standard. Sign up for the Augusta Good News weekly newsletter here.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named best local writer by readers of Augusta Magazine in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here
