Fair brings exhibits, food and exotic animals to Aiken

Bill Bengtson, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·3 min read

Oct. 24—Candy apples, merry-go-rounds, farm equipment, exotic livestock, corn dogs and at least one century-old tree are part of the package on May Royal Drive for the next few days, with the Western Carolina State Fair in action, having rebounded from the 2020 cancellation due to COVID-19 precautions.

New attractions on May Royal Drive, near U.S. 1, include a mostly hands-on display courtesy of Eudora Farms from the Salley area. "This is the first time we've been here in over 20 years," said Gregory Steadman. "We have our drive-through safari, which is ... about 30 miles away from here, so it's real good to be in our local area."

Elbow room abounds. "We actually did get a larger tent this year, so it gives a lot more room for the animals and more shade for the people, and it allows us to fit a lot more people, but also safely, so they're not as congested," Steadman added.

"We always rotate our animals, of course, so we have some ... that haven't been here before, but some have." The guest list includes coatimundis ("South American versions of raccoons"), parakeets, ring-tailed lemurs, wallabies and more familiar Eudora visitors such as camels and "big cattle."

Among other items on display are exotic plants, such as the "100-plus-year-old" bonsai tree brought by Scott Hallman, and now sporting a "best in show" ribbon from the fair. The tree is "fairly low-maintenance," he said. "I trim it about once a year."

Some fairgoers have had to double back to the parking upon discovering new regulations in place this year. A "clear bag" policy is in effect, and metal detectors are part of the scene that anyone looking to enter the fairgrounds will need to navigate.

"Multiple detectors will be in place to ensure that entry is not unnecessarily delayed, and special accommodations will be made for wheelchairs and baby strollers. All packages, bags, pocketbooks, briefcases and persons will be subject to search before fair admittance," according to the fair website.

It also notes, "Certain items are now prohibited at the Western Carolina State Fair including backpacks, fireworks, selfie sticks, pets (except for service animals), clothing or jewelry deemed to be offensive or gang related, drones on the property, and weapons including firearms, ammunition, knives of any kind and pepper spray. Concealed weapons are also not permitted."

Bridgestone and Blanchard Equipment — a regional John Deere supplier — are among major sponsors of this year's festivities.

Much of the entertainment is provided by Reithoffer Shows, based in Gibsonton, Florida. The fair's history reaches back to the late 1960s and has its roots in the Aiken Jaycees.

Local Jaycees, in their quest for a project to help support local charities, decided to take steps in 1968 toward holding a county fair, as reported in a November 2019 Aiken Standard article. It noted that such figures as Irvin Deggeller, James Gregory, Vernon Spane, William Sibley and Alan Gregory pooled their talents and the eventual result was the the Western Carolina State Fair, which moved to its current site in the fall of 1973.

The original location was a golf driving range near the Whiskey Road acreage now occupied by Aiken Motorcycle Sales and Service.

This year's schedule has the gates opening at noon on weekends and 5 p.m. on weekdays. The fair will run through Oct. 31. Among the leaders of the 2021 effort are Kevin Lucas, Tony Rickard, Randy Eblen, Warren Lucas, Mike Fanning Dianne Phillips, Tommy Molony, Joey Patsourakos and Amanda Dennis.