Great Anderson County Fair Set to Return April 30-May 10
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
The pigs are off to the races in 76 days, as part of the return of the annual Great Anderson County Fair at Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center April 30-May 10, for 11 days of family fun, rides, live entertainment, and fair food favorites to the Upstate.
As the largest fair in the Upstate, the annual event attracts more than 75,000 guests each year. Fair hours are Monday–Thursday from 4–10 p.m., Fridays from 4–11 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m.–11 p.m., and Sundays from 12:30–10 p.m.
This year’s fair features an exciting lineup of new attractions, alongside returning fan favorites that have become a tradition for families across the region.
Two new rides headline the additions from the James H. Drew Exposition Midway, one of the largest traveling carnivals in the nation. Aeromax and Flying Cows are both designed with younger riders in mind. Aeromax lets children soar up and down in colorful mini-airplanes, while Flying Cows sends riders spinning gently through a farm-themed adventure.
The 2026 lineup also brings new entertainment to the fairgrounds. Royal Legacy Circus will stage high-energy performances featuring acrobats, aerialists, and other big-top acts that blend traditional circus artistry with modern spectacle. Electrifying Magic adds fast-paced illusions, comedy, and audience participation, while The Amazing Bubble Factory transforms everyday bubbles into a dazzling display of color and motion. All three shows are included with gate admission and will perform several times daily.
Several returning favorites will be back as well. Rosaire’s Royal Racers, a long-running pig racing show, remains one of the fair’s most popular attractions, with themed heats, lively announcing, and plenty of audience cheering. The Eudora Farms Exotic Petting Zoo also returns, offering up-close encounters with animals such as zebras, baboons, and binturongs, along with camel and pony rides. The petting zoo is open daily during fair hours.
Gate admission is $10, and children 10 and under are admitted free. Parking is free. Ride tickets and unlimited ride wristbands will be sold on-site, and the Online Mega Pass—available March 1 through April 29 for $25—includes both gate admission and unlimited rides for one day of the guest’s choice.
The fair will again feature daily specials, including Opening Day food drive incentives, Senior Citizens Day, Student Day, Teacher Tuesday, Hero’s Day, and Mother’s Day discounts.
Fair organizers encourage visitors to review the Youth Attendance Policy and schedule details online before attending. For more information, visit https://www.thegreatandersoncountyfair.com/
