SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
General Rules & Regulations for Competitive Exhibitors
Interpretation & Violation of Rules
Sale & Promotion of Tickets Policy
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The South Carolina State Fair reserves the right to search all packages, bags, strollers, clothing, cups, pocketbooks, briefcases, your person and any other objects deemed to be a carrier of any destruction or lethal device.
- No food or beverage will be allowed through the entrance gates.
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Concealed weapons are not allowed, even by permit holders.
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Persons wearing clothing or jewelry which the Fair deems as offensive or gang related will not be allowed onto the Fairgrounds.
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This property is under the jurisdiction of the Richland County Sherriff's Department and the Columbia Police Department.
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All youths under the age of sixteen (16) years are required to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (21 & older) to be admitted to the South Carolina State Fair after 5:00 pm.
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Anyone age sixteen (16) years or over may be asked to show a valid driver's license for proof of age in order to be admitted to the South Carolina State Fair without a parent or guardian after 5:00 pm.
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Any young adult age sixteen (16) years and over without a valid driver's license and not accompanied by a parent or guardian will not be admitted after 5:00 pm.
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Exceptions and challenges to this policy will be satisfied at the discretion of the Fair Management.
Sale & Promotion of Tickets Policy:
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There shall be no re-sale or public promotion of SC State Fair Tickets.
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All companies, organizations or individuals are welcome to purchase tickets or ride wrist band coupons to the South Carolina State Fair.
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Because of contractual obligations made by the Fair with various sponsor entities that may include exclusive rights to sell or promote marketing programs in conjunction with or on behalf of the fair, only authorized firms are able to utilize tickets for sale or promotion to the general public.
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For consignment or other purchase of tickets, the Fair makes these tickets available on the premise that they are to be used by the individuals purchasing them only, or for employees or immediate family of companies or organizations purchasing them.
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In the event that the Fair finds violation with this policy, it reserves the right to void all tickets purchased.
Interpretation and Violation of Rules - The South Carolina State Fair reserves to Fair Management the right to interpret the following rules and regulations and determine all matters pertaining thereto; also the right to amend or add such rules as warranted. Violation of any of these regulations shall cause forfeiture of all privileges, prize money and the rights to further participation by the violator. This shall apply to all departments of the South Carolina State Fair.
Gate Operating Times - All gate operating times (opening and closing) are subject to change. In addition, Midway closing times may vary based on weather conditions and other influencing factors.
Security - All containers, packages and persons are subject to search upon arrival at the fairgrounds. The following items are not permitted on the fairgrounds:
- alcoholic beverages;
- concealable weapons;
- pets, other than those approved by the American Disabilities Act (ADA), except when confined and leashed within the campgrounds or unless they are part of an authorized act or exhibit;
- tents of any description unless they are part of an authorized act or exhibit
Soliciting, the sale of raffle tickets, and the posting of handbills is in violation of state statutes and city ordinances and is strictly prohibited.
Liability - Due diligence will be used to insure the safety of animals or articles on exhibit, but The State Agricultural & Mechanical Society of South Carolina (South Carolina State Fair) expressly refuses to assume any liability for injuries to any person or damage to any property because of accidents, theft, fire, the elements, and other conditions. No claims for injury to any person or damage to property shall be asserted or suit instituted or maintained against the said State Agricultural & Mechanical Society of South Carolina, its officers, agents, or employees by any person having privilege to exhibit or license to operate on the fairgrounds or occupying any space thereon.
General Rules & Regulations for Competitive Exhibitors
Building Exhibit Departments: Fine Art, Student Art, Agriculture, Flower, Home & Craft
Livestock Departments: Beef & Dairy Cattle, Dairy Goat, Sheep, Small Stock, Swine, Youth Horse
Social Security # - Only exhibitors listing a Social Security number at time of entry registration are eligible for prize monies (premiums).
Application For Entry - All applicants for entry to exhibit any animal or article in the Fair must be registered using either (1) the Online Entry System or (2) mail an Official SC State Fair department entry form of the current year to the address indicated on the entry form, or (3) deliver to the SC State Fair Dowling Administration Building to be received by the time stated on the Entry Registration form (dates vary with each department).
Entry forms are available during the Open Entry Registration Period (August and early September) on the SC State Fair web site Online Premium Guide and at the SC State Fair office. Entry forms may be duplicated. The Fair does not publish a hard copy premium guide (since 2001).
Entry Registration Periods (Open & Late) are noted in the Online Premium Guide, on each department Index page, and also on Official entry forms. Entries must be received during the Open or Late Entry Registration Periods. Entries received after these dates will not be accepted.
Late Entry Registration Period - Late Fees of $25 per exhibitor will be imposed during the Late Entry Registration Periods.
Exhibitor Fees & Entry Fees - (Link to Privacy Statement)
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An Exhibitor Fee of $5.00 in addition to Entry Fees (which vary with each department) are required for the following departments or divisions: Open Dairy Cattle Division, Open Beef Cattle Division, Dairy Goat, Open Sheep Division, Smallstock (exception of Wildlife Division), Open Swine Division, Youth Horse.
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There are no entry fees required in the following departments or divisions: Agriculture, Flowers, Home & Craft, Fine Art, Student Art, Junior Dairy Cattle Division, Junior Beef Cattle Division, and Junior Swine Division.
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Exhibitor and Entry fees are defined in the Online Premium Guide on each department's Index page, department rules and regulations, and on entry forms.
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Checks will not be accepted following the Closing Date for entries in any department. Any fees owed past the Closing Date must be paid on the day of the show to the Superintendent in cash or Money Order.
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Exhibitor and Entry Fees are non-refundable.
Delivery of Exhibits - Date, time and place of delivery are defined in the Online Premium Guide, on each department Index page, and on the Official entry forms.
Release of Exhibits - Release dates and times are defined in the Online Premium Guide, on each department Index page, and on the Official entry forms. Unclaimed exhibits and awards become property of the SC State Fair and will be donated to charity.
Early Removal of Exhibits - Any exhibitor removing animals or other exhibits before official release date and time for that department, without written consent of the superintendent, will forfeit all prizes and premiums.
Limitations of Competition - Competition in all Open livestock shows is open to the world. Entries in the Agriculture, Flower, Home & Craft, Fine Art, and Student Art departments are limited to residents of the State of South Carolina.
Animal Health Requirements for Exhibitions are noted in the Online Premium Guide on each department Index page in the rules and regulations.
Judging of Exhibits - No unworthy animal or article will be awarded prize money. Judges are instructed not to award prize money to any animal or article solely because of its presence. No award will be given to any animal or article that does not possess high intrinsic merit. If only one (1) animal or article is exhibited in a class, the premium awarded is left to the discretion of the judges. When animals or articles are not deemed worthy, judges will not award prize money, whether or not there is competition in the class. Dates and times of judging are noted in the Online Premium Guide Index page of each department.
Protest and Appeal - No protest based on the statement that the judge or judges were incompetent will be considered. Protest upon any other grounds must be presented in written form to Fair Management within twenty-four (24) hours of the protested action. All questions of dispute with interpretation of rules shall be referred to Fair Management whose decision shall be final.
Payment of Prize Money (Premiums) - Only exhibitors listing a Social Security number at time of entry registration are eligible for prize monies. Prize money will be paid within thirty (30) days after the close of the Fair. No claim that prize money has not been paid, or that there was a discrepancy in payment of the prize money won, will be considered if made later than November 30 following the Fair. Checks not cashed in ninety (90) days of date issued become void and will not be reissued.
