With the crisp temps setting it, it signals fair season in the Augusta area. That means rides, games, entertainment and a smorgasbord of fried foods and sweet treats you can only get on the midway.
And it starts in Aiken Oct. 10.
The Western Carolina State Fair returns to Aiken for 10 days from Oct. 10 to Oct. 19 with new attractions making their debuts. An expanded fun house has 20 new tricks in it, and the Ring of Fire comes to Aiken for the first time, according to a news release. Gate admission is free on opening night.
Special attractions include Dangerous Feats of Comedy: A high-energy, comedy, daredevil thrill show for all ages and Pompeyo’s Dog Show from ”America’s Got Talent.” The show features trained dogs, all of them are former shelter animals.
The Western Carolina State Fairgrounds are at 561 May Royal Drive, Aiken.
For more information, go to LetsRideAiken.com. For daily updates and chances to win tickets, follow the Western Carolina State Fair Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.
The 2025 Georgia-Carolina State Fair returns Oct. 17-26 at the Augusta Exchange Club Fairgrounds.
The area’s oldest fair features rides and games plus the Miss Fair pageant, 4H events, Shane Hansen and the Rock-N-Circus, the Amazing Bubble Factory and Jurassic Kingdom Lockdown. Visit georgiacarolinastatefair.com for more information.
The Merchants Association of Columbia County presents its annual Columbia County
Fall Fair Oct. 30 to Nov. 9 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds on Columbia Road.
Featured attractions include a demolition derby, the Golabchi Educational Center and the Eudora Petting Zoo.
Performers are scheduled throughout the fair’s duration; they include Little Roy and Lizzie, Jeff and the Bootleggers and Anna and the Funkle Boys.
Advanced tickets are available at columbiacountyfair.net.
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 Augusta Magazine’s best local writer in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
