When gates opened at the Aiken Fairgrounds at 5 p.m. Friday, fairgoers began to trickle in, gearing up for food, rides, games and entertainment for the annual Western Carolina State Fair.
The fair's opening night attracted crowds of families and friends and offered fun for all ages.
Morgan Bowie and Leslie Seigler, of Edgefield, arrived just after the gates opened but children, Banks and Annie Kay, were already enjoying their second fair ride.
The women said it was Banks' first trip to the fair, while Annie Kay had been once before.
"He's excited. He's having a ball," Bowie said, adding they had other rides on their list to try.
Rides seemed to be a hit with many of the families and attendees.
Not too far from Bowie and Seigler, Beth Craft, of Chapin, waited for her family to step down from one of the attractions.
Craft said it was their first year coming to the Western Carolina State Fair, and they decided to travel to Aiken instead of attending the larger state fair, so her two boys could have more ride time.
"They like the rides, and they've already asked for cotton candy," Craft said, with a laugh.
Eighteen-year-old friends Fallon Riner and Chrystal Richardson, both of Aiken, said they enjoy the "Zipper," a ride Riner explained circles in different directions.
Riner said she can't remember how many times she's been to the fair, but added "we come here a lot" when the event comes into town each fall.
The same was true for Aiken residents Patrick Key and Courtney Harris.
Key said the family goes to the fair each year as well. The two watched their children on a car ride, while waving at them as they circled past earlier in the afternoon.
This year, Key said they used a mega pass, a ticket purchased in advance that he said allowed the family to save money on rides. Harris said sometimes she'll get on them with the children, while Key admitted he's more fond of the fair food.
Some of the fair's food offerings included corn dogs, sausage dogs, funnel cakes and large cups of lemonade, but also unique fried foods including fried cheese, pickles and cauliflower.
Before getting their taste of fried food, Lisa and Haileigh Reeves sat and watched 6-year-old Malia Reeves toss frisbees to sea lions during the "Sea Lion Splash" show.
"We came to the show last year, so this will be her first time actually going up there," said Malia's mother, Lisa. "She was actually kind of stunned."
Asked if she had fun, Malia nodded, then handed her mother a picture of her onstage with one of the sea lions that gave her a kiss.
Other entertainment went on during opening night, including a performance by country music artist William Michael Morgan.
The Western Carolina State Fair runs through Oct. 29. The Aiken Fairgrounds are located at 561 May Royal Drive.
Gate admission is $8 for ages 6 and older; advance gate admission is $6. Ages 5 and younger admitted free.
Gates open at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon Saturday and Sunday. Closing time is determined by crowd size and weather, and gates will close at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29.
A Mega Pass for unlimited rides can be purchased in advance for $25 before the fair opens.
Once the fair arrives, a Magic Pass for unlimited rides can be purchased for $35, but does not include gate admission.
A Midnight Magic Pass for unlimited rides can be purchased from 9 p.m. to close for $25; it includes gate admission.
For more information about the fair, visit letsrideaiken.com or follow the Western Carolina Fair Foundation page on Facebook.
BREAKOUT
Theme days
• Fiesta Day on Sunday.
• Car Load Monday on Monday. Promotion is $60 per car (includes gate admission and unlimited rides), limit of up to seven people legally seat belted.
• 12 Buck Tuesday on Tuesday. Promotion is $12 Unlimited Ride Band plus $8 gate admission.
• Olde Fashioned Dollar Day on Wednesday. Promotion is $1 rides (must buy 10 ride tickets at a time), $1 food specials (at select food vendors), free gate admission with the donation of eight non-perishable food items.
• TaTa Thursday on Oct. 26. Promotion is $3 off gate admission for wearing pink.
• Fabulous Friday on Oct. 27.
• Super Saturday on Oct. 28.
• Last Blast on Oct. 29. Promotion is free gate admission with a church bulletin from noon to 3 p.m.; half-price gate admission for military, EMS, fire and police personnel with ID; half price admission for senior citizens (55 years or older) with ID; $20 Unlimited Ride Band from noon to 6 p.m. (does not include gate admission).
Gate admission is $8 for ages 6 and older; advance gate admission is $6. Ages 5 and younger admitted free.
Gates open at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon Saturday and Sunday. Closing time is determined by crowd size and weather, and gates will close at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29.
