During the early nineteenth century, local and regional agricultural societies sponsored fairs featuring competitive events with prizes for the best crops, livestock and homemaking skills.
Beginning in the 1870s, the carnival component of the fair was held on Columbia's downtown streets, flooding the area each evening with thousands of visitors enjoying the restaurants and retail stores, of all which stayed open each night.
Bands and singers that have played in the Grandstand include Chicago in 1970, Golden Earring (from the Netherlands) in '74, Billy Ray Cyrus in 1995, Little Richard (from Macon) in '98, Jars of Clay in 2000, Beach Boys in 2001, Columbia's own Hootie & the Blowfish in 2001, Jesse McCartney in '05, Josh Turner (from Florence County) in '07, Daughtry (from Greensboro) in 2007, Jonas Brothers in 2007, Anthony Hamilton (from Charlotte) in 2008, Zac Brown Band (from Atlanta) with Sugarland in 2008, American Idol winner David Cook in '09, USC alumni Darius Rucker in 2010, Eric Church (from NC) in '10 with Miranda Lambert, Avett Brothers (from Charlotte) in 2010, Styx in 2011, Skillet in 2011, O.A.R.
in 2012, Doobie Brothers in 2012, Boyz II Men in 2012, Hunter Hayes in '13, The Band Perry in '13, Needtobreathe (from Oconee County) in '13, British-American band Foreigner in '13, Corey Smith (from Georgia) in 2013, Lee Brice (from Sumter) in 2014, Marshall Tucker Band (from Spartanburg) in 2014, Charleston's Shovels & Rope in '14, MC Hammer in 2014, Gladys Knight (from Atlanta) in '15, Shawn Mendes (from Canada) in 2015, Aloe Blacc in '16, Lynyrd Skynyrd (from Jacksonville) in 2016, Alabama in '16, Chris Young (from the Nashville area) in 2017, Sabrina Carpenter in '17, Bret Michaels of Poison in 2018, The Temptations, Trace Adkins, Scotty McCreery (from Raleigh).
The South Carolina State Fair now features free nightly concerts at its Pepsi Place Stage showcasing local and regional artists.
This "Rocket" is a Jupiter intermediate range ballistic missile, designed by Dr. Wernher von Braun and built by Chrysler.
Meet Me at the Rocket: A History of the South Carolina State Fair Written by Rodger E. Stroup