South Carolina

We drove the day before and stayed in hotel (Yay Hilton Points!) so we could arrive when they opened.  Got there thinking they opened at 10AM, only to stand in line with MANY other people and find out it opened at 11am.  It took a little time to figure out where official fair parking was. We almost got duped into paying more for outsider parking.  This was a good agricultural fair, except for there being very few horses, but several mules, maybe horses were coming later in the fair.  Best display of animals, especially rabbits with great labels on each (color picture and name of breed) as well as a great petting zoo, pony rides, and elephant/camel rides.  There was also great set up/display area for arts (paintings, quilts, cakes, flowers and vegetables, etc).  Beautiful displays of topiaries and sand castles (in two different buildings).  They also had a balloon display (that they were still working on) with a huge barn, silo, palm trees, etc.  One of the best midways we can remember as well with a lot of great rides, including a really nice looking log ride (that I almost convinced David to go on) and they had special days, like today, where you could pay one price for a wristband and ride all you wanted.  Nice "pioneer days", old time farm equipment, and area to show how things were done back then.  This was one of the best laid out fairs we have been to so far and ranks up there as one of the favorites in every way, except maybe food.  They did not have some of the expected foods, like kettle corn or roasted corn on the cob.  We ate less here than at most fairs, indulging only in a batch of ribbon fries (they called them "spiral spuds") and a funnel cake.  It was also difficult to find drinks that were not bottled (no "special sodas" that David always looks for).