Fall equals fair season here in Augusta, Georgia. Looking for things to do in Augusta this fall? Be sure the State Fair is on your list. The Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) has not one, but two state fairs, and both are worth a visit.
What can you expect from these festive fairs? Exhilarating entertainment? Check. Fried Oreos? Check. Rousing rides, livestock displays, rodeos and more? Check. Read on for all the fun details.
Georgia-Carolina State Fair
For 102 years, the Georgia-Carolina State Fair has provided young and old alike with family fun, food and festivities. This year, the Fair returns to the Augusta Fairgrounds from October 17-26, 2025.
Food And Fun
If there’s one thing you can’t forget to bring when attending the Georgia-Carolina State Fair, it’s your appetite. Food trucks and vendors from all over the region will be slinging the very best in Southern cookin’, as well as everything from Asian cuisine to funnel cakes. Keep checking their website as the final roster of food vendors will be announced soon!
Carnival And Competitions
Even in this era of virtual reality, there’s something special about seeing your kids’ beaming smiles when they hop on a carnival ride. This year, America’s only “railroad carnival,” the fabulous James E. Strates Shows, will be at the Georgia-Carolina State Fair to provide fairgoers, young and old, with numerous terrific thrill rides, including roller coasters and a flying chair tower, as well as relaxing family rides, such as a Ferris wheel and a teacup ride!
Can’t-miss competitions are also offered at the Fair, including Miss Georgia-Carolina State Fair, the Dairy Show and a Plant Identification Contest.
Insider Tips
Advance general admission tickets are $7.70 and go on sale starting September 15, 2025, until October 17, 2025. (Check the State Fair website for prices of gate admission tickets, as they may vary by day.) Plan and save by purchasing your ticket ahead of time, either online or at various locations around the CSRA. Also, visit the Admission Specials page on the State Fair website to browse the discounts available, to everyone from senior citizens to UGA students, and to those bringing everything from a carload of people to an empty can of Coca-Cola.
Day parking is $10 every day at Augusta’s State Fair. An adult must accompany anyone 17 or under. Kids 5 and under get in for FREE!
Western Carolina State Fair
Since 1968, the Western Carolina State Fair has brought tons of family fun to nearby Aiken, SC! This year’s festivities run from October 10-19, 2025, at the Aiken Fairgrounds, at 561 May Royal Rd.
Events And Exhibits
Boasting a burgeoning event schedule, packed with everything from comedy and live music to motocross and a world-class rodeo, there’s something for everyone in this year’s lineup. In addition, you can submit to, or simply enjoy, an abundance of exhibits, including horticulture, floral design and “Recycle Me,” an individual art contest where each art piece must be made of at least 90% recycled materials!
Rides And Refreshments
This year’s Fair boasts an assortment of carnival rides for kids and adults of all ages, including a massive Ferris wheel! There’s even a tractor driving competition, if you’d like to showcase your John Deere driving prowess. Also, for attendees 21 and over, don’t miss the Fair’s beer garden.
Insider Tips
Gate admission is FREE on Opening Day, Friday, October 10, and $8 in advance on subsequent days! Also, starting at 5 p.m. daily, grab a Magic Pass for only $35 ($30 in advance) and enjoy unlimited rides. On Sunday, the 19th, enjoy FREE admission when you present a church bulletin.
We’d recommend purchasing your tickets online to save time and money. Check out all the promotions that the Western Carolina State Fair offers here.
Agoraphobic? Waiting-aphobic? To avoid crowds and long lines, consider arriving early on a weekday, as weekends typically mean more fairgoers.
All minors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult or parent, and kids 10 and under enter FREE!
It’s “fair” to say that the CSRA is the State Fair capital of the United States. These Augusta, GA, state fairs offer plenty of time to enjoy, running from October 10-26. Where else can you attend one of two State Fairs for seventeen days straight? Book your tickets to both of Augusta’s fairs today! We bet you can’t visit one without the other.
